FIRST MEETING: Brent Christensen said that Taiwan shares the US’ values, and the two must ‘stand together to protect … our freedom, our democracy and our future’
Taipei Times
Date: Aug 24, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Brent Christensen yesterday
President Tsai Ing-wen, right, shakes hands with American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA
pledged the US’ support for Taiwan’s global contributions and participation, and denounced China’s interference in the domestic politics of Western nations.
Christensen made the remarks in his first meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei since assuming the helm of the institute’s Taipei office on Aug. 11.
The meeting, which was streamed live on Tsai’s Facebook page, came just two days after Taiwan severed diplomatic ties with El Salvador after learning of its decision to switch allegiance to China.
Some political commentators have said that Beijing orchestrated El Salvador’s switch of recognition to vent its grievance over warming Taiwan-US ties, the latest evidence of which being Tsai’s high-profile transit stops in Los Angeles and Houston, Texas. [FULL STORY]
