China criticized the U.S. for sending a group of former officials to Taiwan, saying the move will only add to mounting tensions.
Two former deputy secretaries of state, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, and former Senator Christopher Dodd arrived in Taipei yesterday afternoon as part of a White House delegation marking the 42nd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. law governing Washington’s unofficial relationship with Taipei.
The American visitors will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and senior national security officials during their three-day stay.
“Such a meeting is not helpful for improving cross-strait ties and stabilizing the cross-strait region,” said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Beijing office that handles matters related to the democratically ruled island.
“This will only add to the tensions. Of course, such a meeting cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China.”
The delegation had to undergo multiple tests for Covid-19 before and after arriving at Taiwan and will have to maintain social distancing and wear masks at all times, the Taipei-based Central News Agency reported, citing Central Epidemic Command Center spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang. He said it is the same “diplomatic bubble” that was used during U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s visit to Taiwan last August.
The visit comes after China escalated its military intimidation of the government in Taipei by sending 25 fighters, bombers and other planes into the southwest section of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone Monday. MDT/Bloomberg
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