Washington’s newly appointed top diplomat to Taiwan has vowed to strengthen U.S. ties with Taipei and affirmed support for Taiwan’s ability to defend itself amid increasing threats from China’s communist regime.
Raymond Greene, the newly appointed de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, conveyed those messages on July 10 at a meeting with the self-ruled island’s president, Lai Ching-te.
“First and foremost, the United States remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s ability to defend itself,” Mr. Greene said at Mr. Lai’s office in Taipei, according to a statement. “We have a shared and abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This is critical for the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and the world.”
The meeting came just two days after Mr. Greene assumed the director’s role at the American Institute in Taiwan, an organization that has long served as Washington’s de facto ambassador to Taiwan.
Mr. Lai said Taipei’s relationship with Washington is “closer than ever before.”
Facing CCP aggression, Mr. Lai told Mr. Greene that Taiwan would “do its utmost to maintain the status quo.”
“We will work closely with the United States and other like-minded countries to contribute to regional prosperity and development,” he added.
Despite its nondiplomatic ties with the island, the United States maintains a robust relationship with Taipei based on the Taiwan Relations Act, which authorizes Washington to provide the island with military equipment for its self-defense.
Beijing has refused all contact with Taipei since the election of former President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, as she declined to endorse the CCP’s demand that Taiwan recognize itself as part of China.
Mr. Greene and Mr. Lai also conveyed their countries’ desire to enhance economic and technology cooperation.
Affirming Taiwan as a “critical economic and trading partner” and a key player in the global supply chain, Mr. Greene said the United States looks forward to strengthening their already “rock-solid” ties across economic, cultural, interpersonal, and technological fields.
Mr. Lai expressed his anticipation for the further deepening of Taiwan–U.S. relations “in all manner of fields.” He highlighted the potential for collaboration and exchanges between Taiwan and the United States in “AI and other innovative sectors.”