US lauds Taiwan ties in dedication of new de-facto embassy
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The U.S. dedicated a new de-facto embassy in Taiwan on Tuesday in what officials described as an indicator of robust ties with the self-governing island democracy that China claims as its own territory.
The ceremony, which drew an angry response from Beijing, is the latest sign of how the administration of President Donald Trump has strengthened relations with Taipei amid a litany of disputes with China and rising tensions in the highly militarized Taiwan Strait.
The recently completed American Institute in Taiwan office in a suburb of the capital Taipei will house U.S. representatives and serves American interests in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. AIT Director Kin W. Moy — the U.S. ambassador in all but name — Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and a senior State Department official from Washington, attended Tuesday’s ceremony, which Beijing slammed as harmful to U.S.-China ties.
“We should all be proud of this milestone, which is a symbol of the close cooperation and enduring friendship between the United States and Taiwan,” Moy said at the dedication ceremony.
Joining Moy was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, who called the new office “a symbol of the strength and vibrancy of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership in the 21st century.”
The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979 but maintains close economic, political and security ties with Taiwan.
Beijing has claimed the island as a breakaway Chinese province and has vowed to take it by force, if necessary.
Also attending the ceremony was Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, whose independence-leaning administration Beijing has sought to isolate diplomatically and threatens with invasion.
Tsai wrote in a tweet that the dedication of the office compound was an opportunity to “rededicate ourselves to our shared commitment that as free & open democracies, Taiwan & US have an obligation to work w/one another to defend our shared values.
“I look forward 2 an even brighter chapter in our enduring friendship!” Tsai wrote.
The sides split amid civil war in 1949, and Beijing insists they eventually unify under its rule.
Tsai, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has refused Beijing’s demand that she recognize Taiwan as a part of China, leading to a prolonged freeze in relations that had been gradually warming under her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou of the pro-unification Nationalist Party.
China bars Taiwan from membership in the United Nations and many other international organizations and has been luring away the island’s remaining diplomatic allies, leaving it with just 18.
Beijing has cut all contacts with Tsai’s government, reduced the number of Chinese tourists visiting the island and upped its military threat with war games and air patrols around the island and by sailing its aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s military held an exercise last week that simulated a Chinese airborne assault on a major air base.