US Taiwan envoy makes 3rd trip to island ahead of January’s presidential elections

The de facto US envoy to Taiwan, Laura Rosenberger, has arrived in Taipei for her third visit in seven months, as the island gears up for a presidential election that has been framed as a stark choice between war or peace with mainland China.

Taiwan urges US to speed up weapons deliveries, boost defence supply chain

“They will meet high-level government officials and [representatives] of all walks of life to exchange views on such important topics as Taiwan-US relations, regional security, economy, trade and investment,” the island’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

“Based on solid and firm relations of our two sides, we look forward to keeping close communication and cooperation with Chair Rosenberger to further deepen and expand the comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and the US in all areas,” it said.

03:04

On US stopover, Taiwanese Vice-President William Lai vows to lead Taiwan with peace

On US stopover, Taiwanese Vice-President William Lai vows to lead Taiwan with peace

Rosenberger has repeatedly stressed the US will not take sides in the island’s presidential poll scheduled to be held alongside the legislative elections on January 13.

“The United States … looks forward to working with whomever the Taiwan voters choose as their next leader,” she said on Wednesday at a seminar for the think tank Global Taiwan Institute in Washington.

“As we have been getting to know the candidates, we have been committed to engaging with them on a fair and equal basis,” she said, adding Washington also opposed outside interference by any actor in Taiwan’s elections, and that its policy would remain the same regardless of the polls’ outcome.

03:06

Foxconn founder Terry Guo picks Netflix actress Tammy Lai as running mate in Taiwan presidential bid

Foxconn founder Terry Guo picks Netflix actress Tammy Lai as running mate in Taiwan presidential bid

The US, like other countries, does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but is opposed to any unilateral change to the cross-strait status quo by force.

The KMT, which believes warm relations with Beijing would be the best guarantee of Taiwan’s security, says the DPP’s anti-mainland policy could only lead to cross-strait conflict.

Opposition considers joint ticket for better chance of winning Taiwan election

Rosenberger’s trip came as Hou and Ko were trying to form a coalition to challenge the DPP’s Lai, the front-runner in the race.

Aides for the two candidates met in their first meeting on Saturday to discuss a possible joint ticket to take on Lai, but talks broke off after heated disputes over how to choose the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.