US Announces 'highest Level' Taiwan Visit In Decades

The United States on Wednesday announced its "highest level" visit in decades to Taiwan, a move sure to infuriate China at a time when relations between Washington and Beijing are at historic lows.

Washington's trade office in Taipei confirmed that health chief Alex Azar would lead an upcoming delegation to the self-ruled island.

"This marks... the first Cabinet member to visit in six years, and the highest level visit by a US Cabinet official since 1979," the American Institute in Taiwan said.

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed the trip and said Azar would meet the island's foreign and health ministers.

"Secretary Azar is a long-time staunch friend of Taiwan," the ministry said, describing his upcoming trip as "ample evidence of the solid foundation of mutual trust" between Washington and Taipei.

The last cabinet-level trip to Taiwan was in 2014 when the then head of the Environmental Protection Agency visited. 

The most recent before that was a trip in 2000 by a transport secretary under US President Bill Clinton. (AFP)