US Department of State officials have opened formal discussions with Taiwan on the raising of the Republic of China (ROC) flag over the Twin Oaks compound in Washington at a New Year’s Day celebration.
The talks are taking place in Taipei and Washington at what one source described as “a senior level.”
According to a US Congressional source not directly involved, the US is looking for a firm assurance that the incident will not be repeated.
For the third day in succession, the flag-raising was a central issue at the State Department press briefing on Wednesday.
Under strict protocols — developed after the US switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing 36 years ago — Taiwan is not supposed to fly its flag above Twin Oaks, the residence of the nation’s official representative to the US.
However, last week, Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) ignored the protocols and, without first clearing it with the US, had the flag raised at a private ceremony and released photographs of the event to the press.
Beijing was furious and made a formal protest to Washington.
Shen said in Taipei that the flag-raising was “not unprecedented” and that US officials made no protests when ROC flags were flown during a Double Ten National Day celebration at Twin Oaks in October last year.
Asked to comment on this development on Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that she had no details about the October event, but that she would look into it.
She said that Twin Oaks was an official government facility and not a private home.
A reporter said that some in Taipei believed US concern about the flag-raising was not so much due to the event itself as to the protests from Beijing.
“It has to do with our consistent policy, that’s what it has to do with,” Psaki said.
Reporters pressed to know if there would be any repercussions as a result of the incident.
“We’re in discussions,” Psaki said.
“We continue to be in discussions with Taiwan authorities on this matter, but I don’t have any update,” she said.
Psaki said the flag had been taken down from the pole where it was hoisted above Twin Oaks, although the US had not actually asked for it to be lowered.
A reporter said that the Palestinians did not have a sovereign state and yet the US had no objection to them flying the Palestinian flag at their representative office.
“Why are you taking the stand that you’re taking now with Taiwan?” the reporter asked.
“We have strong cultural ties with Taiwan, and that hasn’t changed,” Psaki said. “Obviously, we look at every situation and every relationship differently. And I think that’s what every country, what every entity, what every relationship we have in the world expects.”
Asked if the expression of “disappointment” about the flag-raising would be the only consequence, Psaki said: “There are ongoing discussions. I have nothing else to read out for you.”
Psaki was asked about reports that the US had not been informed in advance about the flag-raising, giving it the ability to deny knowledge of the event when Beijing complained.
“I think we’re kind of 40 questions past where I have something to offer you on this particular line of questioning,” Psaki said.
“I would just convey that people were asking whether we knew in advance. We did not know in advance. I don’t have any speculation for you on what we would have preferred either way,” she added.
She was asked if there would be any restrictions imposed on the use of Twin Oaks as a result of the flag-raising.
“I wouldn’t make a prediction of that,” Psaki said. “We’re in discussions with authorities both in Taipei and in Washington. I don’t have anything to read out about those discussions. We continue to have an important cultural relationship — a relationship that I think both sides enjoy. And obviously, we expressed our view on this particular incident.”
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