US will continue to strengthen ‘unofficial ties’ with Taiwan, vice-president Kamala Harris says
- Harris accuses Beijing of trying to coerce its neighbours and undermine the status quo in the Taiwan Strait
- Vice-president tells US sailors based in Japan that Washington will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defence in the face of Beijing’s ‘aggressive behaviour’
Speaking to American sailors on the USS Howard, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer based in Yokosuka, Japan on Wednesday, Harris said Beijing had undermined the international rules-based order and “flexed its military and economic might to coerce and intimidate its neighbours”.
She said: “We anticipate continued aggressive behaviour from Beijing, as it attempts to unilaterally undermine the status quo.
“We will continue to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo. And we will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defence, consistent with our long-standing policy.
“Taiwan is a vibrant democracy that contributes to the global good – from technology to health, and beyond, and the United States will continue to deepen our unofficial ties.”
She added stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait is an “essential feature” of a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, and said the US will continue to operate in the region “undaunted and unafraid”.