Vice President Chen Chien-jen arrived in New York on Saturday for a transit stop. He’s on his way to the Dominican Republic, where he will attend that country's presidential inauguration as a special envoy of President Tsai Ing-wen.
Chen was welcomed at the airport by American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Executive Director Joseph Donovan, Taiwan's representative to the US Stanley Kao, and nearly 100 overseas compatriots in New York.
AIT is the top US body in charge of Taiwan ties in the absence of official diplomatic relations.
Chen did not speak publicly upon his arrival, and the US placed restrictions on media coverage at the airport. That’s in keeping with a tacit understanding between the two countries. The vice president’s transit stop in New York is being treated as a "private and unofficial" visit.
This is Chen’s first overseas trip since taking office on May 20. He’s traveling at the head of a 14-member delegation, which is scheduled to fly the Dominican Republic on Sunday and stay there until Aug. 17. The group will transit in New York before returning to Taiwan on Aug 20.