Amid rising tensions, new US official visits Taiwan after Chinese maneuvers

Yesterday, the US governor met with the president of Taiwan, days after Washington announced trade talks with Taipei following Chinese military threats to the self-ruled island that Beijing considers part of its territory. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb arrived in Taiwan on an “economic development trip” Sunday, and talks are expected to cover areas ranging from agriculture to digital commerce, regulatory practices and the removal of trade barriers. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait came to a head after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in early August, which provoked an angry reaction from Beijing, which launched its largest military exercise in the vicinity of the island. Washington pursues a policy of diplomatic recognition of Beijing, not Taipei, but has a real relationship with Taiwan and supports its right to self-determination. In a meeting with the US governor yesterday, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen spoke about China’s maneuvers around the island, calling for continued international support for her country. “We are currently facing the continued spread of global tyranny,” she told Holcomb. “Taiwan is facing military threats from China in and around the Taiwan Strait. At this moment, democratic allies should come together and strengthen cooperation in all areas.” For his part, Holcomb said the United States and Taiwan “have many common values, interests and goals,” adding, “We will continue to strive to build a strategic partnership with you.” “China has always opposed any official contact between any country and the Taiwan region of China,” Xu Jueting, a spokeswoman for China’s Commerce Ministry, told reporters on Thursday.