US Governor Visits Taiwan
Eric Holcomb landed in Taiwan on Sunday, specifically to discuss economic issues. He and President Tsai Ing-wen spoke on Monday.
Eric Holcomb, the Republican governor of the US state of Indiana, landed in Taiwan on Sunday. (file image)
KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Daron Cummings
A US governor met Taiwan’s president on Monday, days after Washington announced trade talks with Taipei and amid heightened tensions with China over sovereignty over the island.
Eric Holcomb, the Republican governor of the US state of Indiana, arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for an official trip dedicated to economic issues.
He spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday, who opened the meeting in front of the media, directly referring to the military exercises carried out by Beijing and calling on “(democratic) allies” to “come together and strengthen their cooperation”. All sectors in the face of “expansion of totalitarianism” throughout the world.
Taiwan industry
The United States and Taiwan “share many interests, common values and goals (…). We will continue to strive to build a strategic partnership with you,” the US governor said.
Eric Holcomb is expected to meet with representatives of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, a world leader in the field, before traveling to South Korea on Wednesday.
Trade barriers
Tensions between the US and China have been rising since Chinese officials saw US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in early August as a provocation.
Beijing responded by imposing trade sanctions on Taiwan and conducting unprecedented exercises in the air and waters of the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has vowed to one day retake it by force if necessary, has been irritated by every diplomatic move toward official recognition of the island.
AFP
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