Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday as part of a trip that has caused disgrace in China.
The nation’s top official is leading a delegation to support Taiwan’s international role in combating the coronavirus pandemic and strengthening ties between the US and the island, which China claims to be its own.
Azar – the highest-ranking U.S. official to go to Taiwan in 40 years – landed at Taipei’s Songshan airport late in the afternoon, where he was met by Brent Christensen, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan. Taiwan, and by Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung -kwang.
Washington broke official ties with Taipei in 1979 in favor of Beijing.
On Monday, Azar is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwanese government and visit Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control.
He is also set to meet during his visit with President Tsai Ing-wen.
Beijing has been outraged by the attempt and has previously threatened to take unspecified countermeasures.
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