Taiwan President commends strong US ties amidst post-election visit

Taipei: Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-wen, expressed appreciation on Monday for the "close and staunch" partnership between Taiwan and the United States as she welcomed a delegation from Washington on a post-election visit.

The unofficial delegation, sent by US President Joe Biden's administration, includes senior politicians, notably Tsai's Vice President Lai Ching-te, who secured victory in Saturday's poll.

Despite Beijing's warnings against electing Lai, whom they labeled a dangerous separatist, Taiwanese voters defied the calls. President Tsai acknowledged the significance of the US delegation's visit, stating, "Your visit is highly meaningful. It fully demonstrates US support for Taiwan's democracy and highlights the close and staunch partnership between Taiwan and the US," reported AFP.

China, which considers Taiwan its territory and refuses to rule out the use of force to bring it under control, denounced the election results, maintaining that it doesn't alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China.

The US delegation, led by the chair of the American Institute of Taiwan, includes a former national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state. Their meeting with Vice President Lai is expected to draw Beijing's ire, given its objections to any gesture implying official recognition of Taiwan.

Taiwan, lacking diplomatic recognition from most countries globally, remains a significant partner of the United States, which is also its primary weapons provider.

The last post-election US delegation visit occurred in 2016 after Tsai's initial win. Since then, China has severed high-level communications with Tsai's administration, which has consistently asserted Taiwan's independence.

In response to the election outcome, Tsai's deputy, Lai, pledged to defend the island against China's "intimidation." Despite losing seats in the legislature during the recent vote, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), under Tsai's leadership, has secured an unprecedented third term.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed the DPP's legitimacy, stating that the party cannot represent the island's mainstream public opinion. Despite political shifts, Taiwan, under Tsai's administration, has fortified its defense capabilities to deter China's escalating threats.