Taiwan’s former President Tsai Ing-wen is currently on an eight-day trip to Europe, and according to reports from U.S. media outlet Politico, she is expected to visit the United States in a few weeks.
An anonymous official from the Biden administration responded to inquiries, stating, “We have nothing to confirm.” The official noted that Tsai, as a private citizen, has the right to visit the U.S., much like former President Ma Ying-jeou did in September.
The official emphasized the longstanding exchange between the American and Taiwanese people, explaining that unofficial trips by Taiwanese citizens do not impact the U.S.’s “One China” policy.
The report cites two knowledgeable sources indicating that Tsai plans to head to the U.S. shortly after concluding her European engagements. If this visit materializes, it could significantly impact U.S.-China relations during a particularly tense moment ahead of the American elections.
The analysis highlights that Beijing has consistently opposed visits by both current and former high-ranking Taiwanese officials to the U.S. The level of American officials Tsai meets and the timing of her visit will influence Beijing’s reaction.
The report suggests that if Tsai visits the U.S. before the November 5 election, she could become a political focal point, with members of both major parties vying to meet with her to bolster their “hardline against China” image. Conversely, if she visits after the election but before the presidential inauguration in January, it might allow the new president to showcase support for Taiwan through a meeting with her.
In December 2016, President-elect Trump famously took a congratulatory call from then-President Tsai after his election victory.
The analysis also indicates that if the newly elected U.S. president—whether it be Trump from the Republican Party or Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party—were to speak with top officials in Taiwan again, or even meet Tsai during her visit, it would provoke outrage from Beijing.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the U.S., expressed Beijing’s firm opposition to any form of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan. He criticized the U.S. for allowing Taiwanese officials to engage in activities that promote Taiwanese independence, asserting that such actions violate the One China principle and the three Joint Communiqués between the U.S. and China.
Liu emphasized that the Taiwan issue is central to China’s core interests and is the primary red line in U.S.-China relations. He urged the U.S. to adhere to the One China principle and to halt any forms of official exchanges with Taiwan immediately.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. declined to comment on the situation.
