Premier Su Tseng-chang says that Taiwan welcomes an upcoming visit by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.
Azar is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on August 9. He is set to become the highest-ranking US Cabinet official to visit Taiwan since Taiwan and the US broke off formal diplomatic ties in 1979.
On Friday, Su responded to Chinese criticism of the visit. He said that Taiwan is a free and independent country that welcomes international exchanges. He said that China should not interfere in Taiwan’s affairs.
Su said that Azar’s visit is the result of Taiwan’s success in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said that under President Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership, the whole world has seen how Taiwan is a force for good.