President Tsai Ing-wen visited the USA this week. The purpose of the visit was to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Details of the agenda for the visit have been closely guarded however it is widely believed President Tsai and McCarthy discussed speeding up US arms deliveries to Taiwan and strengthening the ties between the two countries.
Speaking in a joint appearance with McCarthy before a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library outside Los Angeles, the Taiwanese leader also thanked the U.S. for its support to Taiwan.
The “unwavering support” Tsai said, “reassures the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated, we are not alone”.
Among the Democratic and Republican officials present were Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher and Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, co-chairs of a newly House select committee that focuses on China.
Tsai Ing-wen was met with protests on her way to the US, and on her return trip. On the first trip there was a protest by anti-war organizations and Chinese groups at her hotel and on the return trip there was a protest outside the Reagan Library where she met with McCarthy
Outside the venue, a few dozen people staged protests against Tsai’s visit and a propeller plane flew circles above the estate, trailing a banner that said: “One China; Taiwan is a part of China.”
On Thursday more than 10 people gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall for a demonstration. The protest in front of Los Angeles City Hall showed their dissatisfaction with Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States by holding up signs and shouting. They believed that America’s aggressive handling of the Taiwan issue would intensify the conflict with China and many Americans do not want another conflict, especially a conflict with China who are Americas largest trading partner. Many Americans just want Biden and his administration to mind their own business and take care of issues at home instead of appointing themselves as the “World Police” and interfering in business that does not concern them.
The Taiwan issue has once again become the focus of the Sino-US issue, and many Americans believe the US should not interfere in other countries internal affairs; one protester commented “We have so many issues at home to deal with, I don’t want our government getting involved in Chinese politics, it has nothing to do with us”.
The last time a Prime Minister of Taiwan visited the USA prior to Tsai Ing-wen’s visit was October 25,1970 when Yen Chia-Kan attended a White House dinner with President Nixon to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the U.N.
The visit last week by Tsai Ing-wen is the most significant visit to date due to the current tensions between China and the USA. Taiwan is doing everything it can to keep America onside in what is the most tense period in the history of Taiwan, Taiwan’s links with governments that recognise the tiny country as a sovereign nation is dwindling fast and needs all the friends it can get.
