Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te thanked the United States for its support Monday during a meeting with an American delegation, with Beijing immediately reacting to oppose any official exchanges between Taipei and Washington. “I am grateful to the United States for its strong support for Taiwanese democracy, which demonstrates the close and strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States,” said Lai Ching-te, two days after his election, “even if China continues to harass Taiwan through military and other activities.”
In response, Beijing said it was “firmly opposed” to any official contact between Taiwan and the United States, also assuring that it “rejects any interference by the United States in Taiwan’s affairs, in any way whatsoever and under any pretext whatsoever. Under intense pressure from China, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces, the island has also lost one of its rare diplomatic allies with the announcement by Nauru, a Pacific micro-state, of the severance of ties with Taipei.
Nauru flag removed in Taipei
Taiwan is now only officially recognized by 12 countries in the world. Denouncing a “surprise attack”, Taipei accused Beijing of having paid “economic aid” to Nauru to influence it and thus wanting to “suffocate Taiwan” on the international scene. “While the world congratulates Taiwan on its successful elections, Beijing has launched a diplomatic crackdown, which is a response to democratic values and a blatant challenge to the stability of the international order,” said Olivia Lin, spokesperson. of the presidency.
In Taipei, the Nauru flag was taken down outside the embassy at midday, when the announcement was made official. Shortly after, Beijing said it “welcomed” Nauru’s decision.
“Our congratulations on the presidential and legislative elections”
A little earlier, the American delegation presented as informal had met outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, like Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who welcomed a “very significant visit”. Made up of former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and President of the American Institute in Taiwan Laura Rosenberger, the commission is due to leave Taiwan on Tuesday.
“We are here to send our congratulations to you and the people of Taiwan on the presidential and legislative elections,” said Stephen Hadley, hailing Taiwan’s democracy as “an example for the whole world.” In 2016, Washington had already sent an informal delegation to Taiwan after a presidential election.
This visit comes at the end of an electoral campaign marked by increasing pressure, both diplomatic and military, from China, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces, to be reunified by force if necessary. Lai Ching-te, outgoing vice president, considers the island to be de facto independent and has promised to protect it from “threats and intimidation” from Beijing.
The status of Taiwan is undoubtedly the most explosive subject in relations between China and the United States. If Washington has recognized Beijing to the detriment of Taipei since 1979, the American Congress has at the same time imposed the provision of weapons to Taiwan, with the stated aim of dissuading China from any expansionist desire.
During the campaign, China urged Washington “not to interfere” in the presidential election in Taiwan.
Looking for the right balance with China
China insisted on Saturday evening that the outcome of this election did not change anything in “the inevitable trend towards the reunification of China”. Lai Ching-te, 64, will take office on May 20, alongside his vice-president, Hsiao Bi-khim, former representative of Taipei in Washington. The one who, in the past, had defined himself as “a pragmatic architect of Taiwan’s independence”, has since softened his speech: now, like Tsai Ing-wen, he adopts a more nuanced position, affirming that an independence process is not necessary because the island has, according to him, de facto this status.
Promising to be “on the side of democracy”, the president-elect also plans to “continue exchanges and cooperation with China”, the first trading partner of Taiwan, a territory of 23 million inhabitants located 180 kilometers from the coast Chinese and considered by China as one of its provinces. A conflict in the strait separating them would be disastrous for the global economy: more than 50% of the containers transported in the world transit there and the island produces 70% of the planet’s semiconductors.