The US regularly engages with Taiwan and would continue to do so, a top US Department of State official said on Wednesday, although he declined to comment on a bilateral security dialogue held the day before.
Senior officials from the two governments met behind closed doors on Tuesday at the American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) Washington headquarters for an all-day annual security dialogue.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (顧立雄) attended the meeting.
Photo: Reuters
On the US side, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell were present, in addition to other officials from the state and defense departments.
Unlike previous high-level dialogues, the participants did not attempt to evade reporters and have not denied meeting, although neither side has formally confirmed that the meeting occurred.
Asked on Wednesday about the meeting, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, who was also in attendance, said “we engage regularly with Taiwan counterparts, and we will continue to do so.”
He also said that there has been no change to the US’ “one China” policy, the Three Joint Communiques or the “six assurances.”
Kritenbrink made the comments at an online news briefing to the Washington Foreign Press Centers, alongside fellow meeting participant US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner.
Asked about the meeting, Kritenbrink said the two sides have a “robust, but unofficial relationship” with communication that happens “on a daily basis.”
On Taiwan’s international participation, Kritenbrink said there are many benefits to global partners having a practical relationship with Taiwan, which he described as a “very capable democracy.”
“We also think that preserving Taiwan’s international space so that it can participate in all organizations for which statehood is not a requirement” is in the global interest, he added.
In another briefing to the Foreign Press Centers, US Senior Official for APEC Matt Murray said that Washington considers Taiwan to be a full member of APEC and would ensure its participation in meetings this year.
The US is hosting APEC meetings this year. The first senior officials’ meeting is ongoing until Tuesday, while the other two would be held from May 14 to 26 and from July 29 to Aug. 21.
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