US opens office without fanfare
TAIPEI: The US unveiled its unofficial embassy in Taiwan’s capital yesterday, holding a low-key ceremony that signalled its support for the self-governing island while also trying to avoid a bigger clash with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory.
While Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her predecessor both attended the dedication of the new $250 million compound of the American Institute in Taiwan, the highest-ranking attendee from Washington was Marie Royce, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.
James Moriarty, the chairman of the Virginia-based headquarters of the institute, and Rep Gregg Harper, R-Miss, were also part of the US delegation.
The institute, known as the AIT, serves as the de facto embassy for the US, which broke off formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan when it switched recognition to the Communist government in Beijing in 1979.
There had been speculation that President Donald Trump might make a bolder show of support for Taiwan, which has emerged as one of the most vibrant democracies in Asia. However, the lack of Cabinet-level visitors from Washington displayed the Trump administration’s unwillingness to upset China, with whom it is already locked in a standoff over trade.
Mr Trump had also sought China’s help in arranging the landmark summit that took place yesterday in Singapore between himself and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. That meeting deflected American and global attention away from the institute’s dedication.
As in the case of the summit on the other side of the South China Sea, China was not present, but was certainly watching.
The government in Beijing views Taiwan as its sovereign territory, which it has vowed to reclaim by force if necessary, despite never having actually ruled the island.
Rumours had run rampant here for months that the Trump administration might break with standing US policy by sending a higher-profile visitor to make a more open show of support for Taiwan, which has faced increasing military and diplomatic pressure from China.
In a show of how important the US presence is for Taiwan, the island’s president, Ms Tsai, was joined at the dedication ceremony by her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou. Many of Taiwan’s top politicians sat in the audience of about 200.
“As we dedicate this building, we also rededicate ourselves to our common sense of purpose,” Ms Tsai said.
“As free and open democracies, we have an obligation to work with one another to defend our values and protect our joint interests.”
When asked by a journalist if he was disappointed that no higher-level representatives were sent from Washington, Mr Moriarty, the institute’s chairman, pointed to the summit in Singapore.
“I believe there is a lot going on in the region today, and we need to respect that,” he said.
Speaking to a crowd of reporters before the ceremony, the institute’s director, Kin Moy, a career diplomat in the State Department, said the new building’s unveiling showed Washington’s “unshakeable” commitment to Taiwan.
After delays since its groundbreaking in 2009, the institute’s fortified compound on the northern edge of Taipei will begin operations in September, when some 450 staff members, including several US diplomats, will relocate from their current offices scattered around the city.
The institute performs most of the same functions as an embassy, including issuing visas.
It is the largest diplomatic mission — official or unofficial — in Taiwan, making it a symbol of both Taiwan’s awkward diplomatic limbo and also its quiet but strong ties with the US.