By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, JAN. 21: A delegation from Taiwan yesterday attended the inauguration of the new United States President Donald Trump, against the objection and strongly worded censure from Beijing.
Former premier Yu Shyi-kun (2002- 2005), leading an 11 people delegation attended the ceremony on Washington’s National Mall on Friday. “Taiwan-US relations are probably at their best right now,” Yu told AFP.
Beijing, which considers Taiwan a break-away province of China disapproves the island nation’s diplomatic relations with other countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was opposed to Taiwan sending delegations to the United States saying it may “interfere in or damage China-U.S. ties”.
“We again urge the relevant side in the United States not to allow the Taiwan authority to send a so-called delegation to the United States to attend the presidential inauguration and not have any form of official contact with Taiwan,” Hua said at a news briefing.
Yu, who headed the delegation at Trump inauguration also told AFP that trump taking a congratulatory call from President Tsai was a positive sign. “She received a very high-level and good treatment in the US, and also there was the call between President Trump and President Tsai, which raised Taiwan’s visibility,” he said.
Trump who took the call from Tsai last month broke a diplomatic constant between US and China, and also said that the much touted “One China policy” is up for a review angering China as well as many within the US government.
Observers say President Tsai Ing-wen’s leaning towards a Taiwan which has minimal dependency on China is seen suspiciously by Beijing.
