US Unofficial Delegation Visits Taiwan Immediately After Presidential Election

On the 14th (local time), the day after Taiwan's presidential election, an unofficial U.S. delegation is reported to visit Taiwan, according to AFP and other news agencies.

On the same day, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which serves as the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan, announced that former senior officials including Steven Hadley, former National Security Advisor, and James Steinberg, former Deputy Secretary of State, will visit Taiwan unofficially. The delegation is scheduled to meet with key Taiwanese politicians.

President-elect Lai Ching-te of Taiwan
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the U.S. government had announced on the 11th that it planned to send an unofficial delegation after the Taiwan election concluded. This marks the third time the Biden administration has sent a delegation to Taiwan. President Joe Biden dispatched high-level envoys composed of former officials to Taiwan twice during the early period of his administration.

AIT stated, "On the 15th, the delegation will meet with major Taiwanese politicians to express support for Taiwan's successful election and its continued prosperity and growth, as well as to convey interest in and congratulations on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait (between China and Taiwan)."

In the presidential election held the previous day, Lai Ching-te, the pro-Taiwan independence and pro-U.S. Democratic Progressive Party candidate, was elected with 40.05% of the vote, defeating Hou You-yi, the pro-China Kuomintang candidate and leader of the main opposition party, who received 33.49%.

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