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Taiwan foreign minister opens de facto consulate in Arizona after Xi meeting
The three-day trip in Phoenix avoids Washington stops and State Department meetings, aiming to reduce friction with Beijing after Xi’s summit.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung is in Arizona for a three-day visit to open a de facto consulate and tour the state’s semiconductor corridor, according to SCMP Economy. The trip comes days after US President Donald Trump wrapped up a state visit for China’s President Xi Jinping, according to the outlet.
SCMP Economy reports that Lin arrived in Phoenix late on Saturday for the visit focused on deepening economic ties between Washington and Taipei. Two sources familiar with the plan say the itinerary will not include stops in Washington or meetings with anyone at the US State Department.
The outlet said a Washington trip so soon after Xi’s visit could have risked a backlash from Beijing. It added that Beijing used the summit to press the US to harden its stance on Taiwan.