US, Taiwan discussing visit by senior official Keith Krach for trade talks

Name: US health chief offers ‘strong support’ to Taiwan in landmark visit
Uploaded: 2020-09-11T00:00:13.000Z
Description: US health chief offers ‘strong support’ to Taiwan in landmark visit

Undersecretary of state is expected to travel to the island for a new economic dialogue in a move set to further anger Beijing

Taiwanese foreign ministry says the two sides are still negotiating on details of the trip

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A new US-Taiwan economic dialogue is expected to be led by Keith Krach, the undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment. Photo: AFP

Lawrence Chung

Published: 8:00am, 11 Sep 2020Updated: 8:00am, 11 Sep 2020

Taiwan is negotiating with Washington over a planned trip to the self-ruled island by US undersecretary of state Keith Krach for trade talks, a move that is set to further enrage mainland China.

It comes after US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited the island last month, prompting a strong protest from Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory.

If Krach does travel to Taiwan, he will be one of the most senior US cabinet members to visit the island in the past two years, and the trip could have an impact on Washington’s ties with both Taipei and Beijing, observers said. Washington’s relations with Taipei have warmed considerably in recent months, while its rift with Beijing deepens.

According to Taiwan’s presidential office and the foreign ministry, the two sides are still discussing the details of the visit.

“Our two sides are still negotiating on the time, form, agenda and all related issues about our [planned] economic dialogue, and we are looking forward to the smooth opening of the high-level dialogue,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

US health chief offers ‘strong support’ to Taiwan in landmark visit

The statement followed Taiwanese media reports that Krach would visit the island between September 17 and 19 for a new economic and commercial dialogue. The US announced the talks after President Tsai Ing-wen in late August said Taiwan would lift a ban on American beef and pork from January.