A top Taiwanese official has arrived in the United States just days after China ended its war games near Taiwan. On Friday, a person familiar with the matter confirmed that the chairman of Taiwan’s National Security Council is in the U.S. for talks with President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to the Financial Times, Joseph Wu is leading a delegation to a meeting known as the “special channel.” This marks Trump’s first use of the special channel since he returned to the White House on January 20.
Taiwan’s representative office in Washington confirmed this information. However, it didn’t share any further details.
China’s Military Activities Spark Reaction
Earlier this week, China’s military carried out two days of war drills around Taiwan. These included long-range, live-fire exercises in the East China Sea. These actions show that China is stepping up its operations near the island.
Meanwhile, China has also increased its criticism of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te. On Tuesday, Chinese officials called him a “parasite.” This came after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Asia and repeatedly criticized Beijing.
No Comments Yet from US or Taiwan Offices
The White House and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Taiwan Rejects China’s Claims
China considers Taiwan its territory and often labels Lai a “separatist.” However, Lai, who won last year’s election, strongly opposes Beijing’s claims. He insists that only the people of Taiwan can choose their future.
In response to China’s war drills, Taiwan issued strong criticism. The United States, which is Taiwan’s main international supporter and biggest arms supplier despite not having formal diplomatic ties, also condemned the recent Chinese military exercises.
US-China Tensions Continue
Taiwan remains one of the key issues fueling tensions between the United States and China. Their relationship has also been strained by disagreements over human rights, COVID-19’s origins, and trade policies. This week, Trump added new tariffs that further tested their ties.
Taiwan has faced the threat of a Chinese invasion since 1949. After losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communist forces, the Republic of China’s government fled to the island. Although the two sides haven’t engaged in direct military conflict for decades, the threat remains.
