The US admires Taiwan's democracy, would not choose sides in its presidential elections, and opposes interference in those elections by foreign forces, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) chair Laura Rosenberger said Thursday.
Speaking at a media roundtable discussion at the AIT’s headquarters in Washington, Rosenberger said that meetings by US officials with Taiwan’s presidential candidates were not “interviews,” and that US policy toward Taiwan would not change based on who was elected.
Photo: CNA
Rosenberger has visited Taiwan twice in the three months since she has taken office, and met with presidential candidates on those trips, she said, adding that she values the opportunity to better understand the individual candidates' policies and priorities, and to build relationships with them.
Asked by reporters to comment on a letter sent the Wall Street Journal recently by Vice President William Lai (賴清德) – who is a candidate in the election – on the topic of peace in the Taiwan Strait, Rosenberger said only that she was aware of the letter, but did not comment on its content, nor would she comment on rumors of a planned visit by Lai to the US next month.
Rosenberger also commented on being transferred to the position of AIT chair from her former position as special assistant to the president and senior director for China and Taiwan at the National Security Council, saying that she was honored to be able to focus on the affairs of one of the important partners of the United States.
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