US Health Secretary to Meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen... Highest-Level Meeting Since Diplomatic Break in 1979

Reaffirmation of Taiwan's Support for WHO Re-engagement
Interpreted as Pressure Tactic by China

▲Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services [Image source=AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Since the United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, the highest-ranking official, Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, will visit Taiwan to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. This visit is interpreted as a move to express U.S. support for Taiwan's re-entry into the World Health Organization (WHO) while simultaneously pressuring China.

According to the Associated Press on the 5th, Secretary Azar stated in a press release, "Taiwan has been a model of global health cooperation and transparency not only during the COVID-19 pandemic but also before."

He added, "I will convey former President Donald Trump's support for Taiwan's global health leadership and emphasize our shared belief that free democratic societies are the best models for health protection and promotion."

The United States established diplomatic relations with China in 1979, recognizing the "One China" principle and severing ties with Taiwan. Since then, it has not actively engaged in high-level exchanges with the Taiwanese government, but this visit is expected to provoke strong opposition from China.

This is the first visit by a U.S. cabinet member to Taiwan in six years since Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, visited Taiwan in 2014.

Secretary Azar, who is visiting Taiwan this time, holds a higher position than Administrator McCarthy who visited in 2014, making him the highest-ranking U.S. cabinet official to visit Taiwan since the severance of diplomatic relations in 1979.

In particular, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. and China have clashed over Taiwan's re-entry into the WHO. Taiwan has participated in the WHO General Assembly as an observer under the "One China" principle, but since 2016, this has become difficult due to China's opposition. However, during the COVID-19 outbreak, Taiwan emerged as a "model response country" and has been seeking WHO re-entry, which China strongly opposes.

Secretary Azar's visit to Taiwan is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the U.S. position supporting Taiwan's WHO re-entry and as a move to pressure China.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Secretary Azar will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and stated, "This visit demonstrates the United States' firm support for Taiwan and the close relationship between Taiwan and the U.S."

As this is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan since the establishment of U.S.-China diplomatic relations, and given that Secretary Azar will meet with President Tsai, who effectively does not accept the "One China" principle, the Chinese government is expected to strongly oppose this.

Since the pro-independence President Tsai took office in May 2016, the Chinese military has increased flight training near Taiwan and conducted large-scale exercises assuming a landing on Taiwan, escalating pressure on Taiwan.

During this visit, Secretary Azar is expected to bring experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and plans to meet with senior Taiwanese officials and health experts to discuss Taiwan's role in responding to COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.