The foreign ministry says it is closely monitoring the upcoming talks between US President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 summit.
The summit, scheduled to kick off on September 4, will be the first G20 summit hosted by China. It will be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Eleanor Wang said Thursday that the foreign ministry and Taiwan’s representative office in Washington have already set up a task force to monitor the latest developments.
Two high-ranking US officials have reportedly said that Washington encourages stable development across the Taiwan Strait and supports Taiwan’s bid to increase its profile in the international community.
"We think it’s meaningful that high-ranking US officials have reiterated Washington’s policy towards Taiwan before President Obama’s trip [to China]," Wang said. "The comments signal firm and friendly ties between Taiwan and the United States. The foreign ministry would like to express its appreciation."
Wang said that Taipei and Washington maintain close political, economic, and security ties.