TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) plans to visit the United States in the coming weeks, following her European tour, according to a report published Tuesday (Oct. 15) by Politico.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/10/15/taiwans-ex-president-tsai-is-us-bound-00183746
This potential U.S. visit comes at a delicate time, as China recently concluded military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, and the U.S. presidential election is set for Nov. 5. The trip is expected to escalate tensions between the U.S., China, and Taiwan.
Neither the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (駐美台北經濟文化代表處) nor the White House has commented on Tsai's possible visit.
However, Liu Pengyu (劉鵬宇), spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, voiced strong opposition to any official exchanges between Taiwan and the U.S. "The U.S. greenlighting this 'visit' is essentially working with Taiwan to connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatists' political activities in the United States. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it," he said.
According to Politico, Tsai described her European visit as an effort to "strengthen our relationships with fellow democracies," citing two sources informed by NatSec Daily.
The former president arrived in Paris on Tuesday and shared on Facebook that she intends to continue promoting Taiwan's commitment to democracy, freedom, and human rights while deepening partnerships with France.
