Dates set for US envoy Kelly Craft’s visit to Taiwan

The U.S. has announced the dates of its United Nations ambassador''s visit to Taiwan. Ambassador Kelly Craft will be in Taipei next Wednesday to Friday, in the final hours of the Trump administration. She''s scheduled to give a speech and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. One scholar says her visit is the Trump administration''s way of highlighting Taiwan''s importance to the incoming Biden administration. The United States Mission to the United Nations has announced the dates of Craft''s visit. She''ll be in Taiwan next Wednesday to Friday, to "reinforce the U.S. government''s strong and ongoing support for Taiwan''s international space." On Thursday, Craft will visit the foreign ministry as well as its Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs. She''ll deliver remarks on Taiwan''s outstanding contribution to the international community and the importance of Taiwan''s expanded participation in international organizations. According to MOFA, Craft will lead a delegation to call on President Tsai Ing-wen and foreign minister Joseph Wu. Xavier Chang Presidential Office spokesman Ambassador Craft has always supported Taiwan. She''s praised Taiwan as a force for good. So with regard to her impending visit, we want to express our sincere welcome. Voice of Joanne Ou Foreign ministry spokeswoman This is the first time since our country withdrew from the U.N. in 1971 that a sitting American ambassador to the U.N. will be here to visit. It symbolizes the continual improvement of the Taiwan-U.S. relationship. Hua Chunying Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman For some time, a handful of anti-China politicians within the Trump administration have been staging a show of madness as their days at the rein are numbered, stopping at nothing to deliberately sabotage China-U.S. relations for selfish political interests. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter: "We''ve stood by our friends in Taiwan. Over the past 3 years the Trump Administration authorized more than $15 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. The Obama Administration? $14 billion dollars in sales over 8 years." With 13 days left in the Oval Office, the U.S. president is still plowing forward with his China policy. Tung Li-wen Taiwan National Policy Research Association The Trump administration is actually reminding the Biden administration of the importance of Taiwan''s relations with the U.S., and of Taiwan''s importance in Asia. He''s setting a stage for the Biden administration. In the future, when Taiwan comes up in China-U.S. relations, this will be the bottom line. Congress has officially certified Biden''s election victory. And with that, the Presidential Office issued a press release congratulating Biden and Kamala Harris. The statement expressed sincere thanks to the Trump administration for advancing Taiwan-U.S. relations and its wide-ranging assistance to Taiwan. It said Taiwan, on the basis of a strong foundation, would continue to enhance cooperation with the incoming administration to promote the wellbeing of people in both countries and maintain regional peace, stability, prosperity, and development.