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Taiwan’s invitation confirmed for democracy summit hosted by Joe Biden
- Island is one of 110 invitees set to attend first of two Summits for Democracy in December
- Biden’s willingness to include Taiwan shows the limitations of his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expert says
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Taiwan is among 110 invitees to a Washington-led democracy summit next month, the US State Department announced on Tuesday, in a move that is expected to enrage Beijing.
President Joe Biden is to host the first of two Summits for Democracy early next month, bringing together leaders from governments and civil society.
The Chinese government has long frowned upon the summits even before confirmation of the inclusion of self-ruled Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province.
Instead of sending its leader Tsai Ing-wen, Taipei said on Wednesday that Digital Minister Audrey Tang and de facto ambassador to the US Hsiao Bi-khim would represent Tsai at the summit.
Tsai’s spokesman Xavier Chang added that since mid-November, the US and Taiwan had held high-level meetings – including the third Indo-Pacific democratic governance consultation on November 15 and the second Taiwan-US Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue – representing deeper US-Taiwan exchanges and cooperation.
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Xi Jinping and Joe Biden call for mutual respect and peaceful China-US coexistence
Xi Jinping and Joe Biden call for mutual respect and peaceful China-US coexistence
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian called on Washington to “stop providing any podium for pro-Taiwan independence forces”.
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