Taipei Times
Date: Aug 25, 2018
By: Bloomberg, TAIPEI
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) yesterday dismissed concern that the US
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu listens during a television interview in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Bloomberg
might use ties with Taiwan as leverage in US President Donald Trump’s trade war with China.
Wu told Bloomberg Television that he was confident the US’ support for Taiwan would not be affected by the ups and downs in relations between the US and China.
“We understand Washington DC’s support of Taiwan continues to be very strong,” Wu said in Taipei. “Taiwan is a positive element in the US economy and I just don’t worry that Taiwan is going to become a chip to be negotiated with by the US.”
Wu’s remarks followed a fresh diplomatic blow to Taiwan, after the Central American nation of El Salvador cut ties with Taipei and switched its recognition to Beijing. The departure left Taiwan with just 17 formal diplomatic partners, as the Chinese Communist Party worked to further isolate President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文). [FULL STORY]
