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U.S Envoy to United Nations, to visit Taiwan next week; China says Playing with Fire

Taiwan
January 8, 2021

The U.S ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will visit Taiwan next week for meetings with senior Taiwanese leaders, Taiwan's Government and the U.S mission to the U.N said, prompting China to warn they were playing with fire.

Beijing, which claims the self governed island as its own territory has been angered by stepped up support for Taiwan from the outgoing Trump administration, including trips to Taipei by top U.S officials, further straining sino-U.S ties.

Chinese fighter jets approached the island in August and September during the last two visits by U.S Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and U.S Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach, respectively.

"During her trip, the Ambassador will reinforce the U.S Government's strong and ongoing support for Taiwan's international space in accord with the U.S one China policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S-PRC Joint communiques and the 6 Assurances to Taiwan," the U.S mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday.

She will be in Taiwan from January 13 to 15, it added.

While the United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is the island's strongest international backer and arms supplier, being obliged to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

China said it was firmly opposed to the visit. "We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," China's U.N mission said.

"China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-U.S relations and the two countries' co-operation in the United Nations and stop going further on the wrong path."