Ex Officials Visit Taiwan Amid Tensions04/14 06:12

   

   TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- A former U.S. senator and two ex-State Department 
officials arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for talks with the island's leaders at 
a time of tense relations with China.

   Chris Dodd, a Democratic senator from Connecticut from 1981 to 2011, was 
accompanied by two former deputy secretaries of state, James Steinberg from the 
Democratic Obama administration and Richard Armitage, who served under 
Republican President George W. Bush.

   The delegation will meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday and exchange 
views with other government departments during their three-day visit, the 
Foreign Ministry said.

   The U.S. has repeatedly expressed concern about Chinese military activity 
near Taiwan including frequent military flights.

   Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said the government welcomed 
the delegation from President Joe Biden's administration, whose visit "conveys 
the U.S.'s firm friendship and support for Taiwan."

   China proposes unification with Taiwan under the "one country, two systems" 
model it has enforced in the former British colony of Hong Kong, virtually 
eliminating political opposition and strongly restricting freedom of speech. A 
large majority of Taiwanese favor the current system of de facto independence 
while maintaining close economic ties with China.

   The U.S. has only unofficial relations with Taiwan but is bound under 
American law to ensure the island can defend itself from attacks and to treat 
all threats against it as a matter of "grave concern." Under new legislation, 
the U.S. has boosted visits by Cabinet-level officials to the island and has 
agreed to sell upgraded missile systems, fighter jets and other defensive 
weaponry.

   China severed formal relations with Tsai's administration and has stepped up 
military, diplomatic and economic pressure over her refusal to acknowledge 
Beijing's claim over Taiwan.

   Taiwan's democratic system should not be a "barrier to unification," Ma 
Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the China Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, said 
at a new conference Wednesday.