The United States says it opposes any outside interference or influence in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
In what appears to be a clear message to China, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday the United States has no favourite candidate.
The official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said Washington has not taken sides in the elections and does not have a favourite or preferred candidate.
“We oppose any outside interference or influence in Taiwan’s elections,” the official said. “Regardless of whom is elected, our policy toward Taiwan will remain the same and our strong unofficial relationship will also continue.”
The Jan. 13 Taiwan elections come at a delicate time in U.S.-Chinese relations with President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping having just re-established military-to-military ties when they met in California last November.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties with the island.
The elections are taking place against a backdrop of a ramped-up war of words between Taiwan and China, which views the island as its own territory despite the strong objections of the Taiwanese government. Washington wants to maintain the self-ruled island’s status quo.
The launch of a Chinese satellite that flew over Taiwan, prompting an erroneous air raid alert, sparked a political storm on the island on Wednesday about China’s motives only days out from presidential elections.
Editor Oloyede Oworu
