US State Department official Daniel Russel says that the United States will not take sides in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election.
Russel is Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He was speaking on Thursday during a news conference at the Foreign Press Center.
Chairwoman of Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party Tsai Ing-wen is set to visit the US next week. When asked about Tsai’s trip, Russel said that the Taiwanese people have the right to choose their own leader, and that Washington will not take sides. He also said that the US is happy to meet with members of any major political parties from Taiwan.
Tsai is a favorite in the presidential election slated for January.