Taiwan arranging President Tsai’s ‘transit’ amid reports of US trip, China ‘seriously concerned’

TAIPEI – Taiwan’s presidential office said on Wednesday that it is working on “transit” plans for an overseas visit by President Tsai Ing-wen, amid reports she will meet US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States.

Taiwanese presidents have a record of travelling through the US en route to other countries, usually for a day or two, though the US government has generally avoided meeting senior Taiwanese officials in Washington.

Taiwan’s presidential office, in a brief statement responding to what it said were media inquiries about Ms Tsai’s overseas visits, said “transit arrangements” had been in place for many years, though it did not directly mention the US.

“At present, various departments are communicating and preparing for relevant plans, and the planning of the related itinerary will be explained in a timely manner after the plan is finalised,” it added, without elaborating.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it was “seriously concerned” and had asked the US for clarification after Taiwan’s presidential office said the President plans to make a “transit” on a foreign visit.

Mr McCarthy confirmed

plans to meet Ms Tsai in the US in 2023,

but stressed that the meeting does not preclude a trip to Taiwan later. 

“That has nothing to do with my travel, if I would go to Taiwan,” Mr McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday night when asked about the meeting. 

The Financial Times on Monday first reported Mr McCarthy’s plans to meet Ms Tsai in California rather than in Taipei, a trip that would have angered Beijing. 

“China can’t tell me where and when I can go,” Mr McCarthy said. 

In February, House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul said Mr McCarthy would plan a trip to the island later in 2023 or in 2024.

But such a visit was seen as setting up a potential confrontation with Beijing, similar to the one last August when

former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to Taiwan.

Mr McCarthy has said he would like to travel there as House Speaker and take a bipartisan group of lawmakers with him.

But the Chinese government has urged Mr McCarthy not to visit the island and “to earnestly abide by the one-China principle”, said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning on Jan 30.

Taiwan is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington. China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday that Taiwan was the “first red line” that must not be crossed in Sino-US relations.

China staged military exercises around Taiwan last August following Ms Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. REUTERS