The arrival of an unofficial US delegation in Taiwan has angered China. But while the mood in Beijing may be sour, it was laughs and jokes all round in the President Office.
President Tsai Ing-wen bumps elbows with her three guests. They’re part of an unofficial delegation sent by America’s Joe Biden. Tsai says Biden said he wanted to strengthen ties with Taiwan before coming to office, and now he’s following through with that promise.
Former Senator Chris Dodd joined the House of Representatives in 1975, before becoming a Senator in 1981. In 2008, both he and Joe Biden ran to be the Democrats’ presidential candidate. Though neither was successful, they remained close friends.
Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is perhaps best known for kissing President Tsai during a visit in 2019. Also joining the delegation was former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
China has poured scorn on the unofficial visit, calling it “an act of deception”. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou responded in kind. She says China claiming sovereignty over Taiwan is a case of Beijing “believing its own lies”. She calls the idea preposterous and absurd.
The delegation will leave Taiwan on Friday.