US Deputy Secretary of State Visits Taiwan, China Warns by Deploying Military Aircraft

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Keith Krach, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, visited Taiwan on the 17th. China responded by deploying military aircraft as a warning.

According to Taiwanese media on the 17th, the U.S. State Department delegation led by Deputy Secretary Krach arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport at around 5:20 PM local time and began a 2-night, 3-day official visit to Taiwan until the 19th. Deputy Secretary Krach is the highest-ranking U.S. State Department official to visit Taiwan in over 40 years since the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979.

Earlier, on the 16th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced that Deputy Secretary Krach would visit Taiwan to attend the farewell service for the late former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, scheduled for the 19th.

Taiwanese media reported that during his visit, Deputy Secretary Krach would meet with various high-ranking Taiwanese officials including President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang to discuss a wide range of issues including preparations for economic and commercial dialogues, industrial supply chain security, and cooperation on technology and energy. Furthermore, Taiwan strongly desires to establish a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

China strongly opposed Deputy Secretary Krach’s visit to Taiwan. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 17th that "China firmly opposes" Krach’s visit and that "China has already lodged stern representations with the U.S. side."

The Chinese military conducted a de facto show of force by sending two Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft into Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone the day before Krach’s visit.

China maintains the position that the United States should not engage in any government-to-government exchanges with Taiwan, which it considers a "rebellious entity."

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