US Envoy To UN To Visit Taiwan, Angers Beijing

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will visit Taiwan next week for meetings with senior Taiwanese leaders, Taiwan's government and the US mission to the UN said, prompting China to warn they were playing with fire.

Beijing, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory, has been angered by stepped-up support for Taiwan from the outgoing Trump administration, including trips to Taipei by top US officials, further straining Sino-US ties.

Chinese fighter jets approached the island in August and September during the last two visits – by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach respectively.

"During her trip, the Ambassador will reinforce the US government's strong and ongoing support for Taiwan's international space in accord with the US one-China policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three US-PRC joint communiques, and the Six Assurances to Taiwan," the US mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday.

She will be in Taiwan from January 13 to 15, it added.

While the United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is the island's strongest international backer and arms supplier, being obliged to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Beijing said it was firmly opposed to the visit.

"We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," China's UN mission said.

"China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations and the two countries' cooperation in the United Nations, and stop going further on the wrong path."

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Craft, whom it called a "staunch friend", would meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

The visit is highly symbolic as Taiwan is not a UN member.

The US mission said that while in Taipei she would give a speech on "Taiwan's impressive contributions to the global community and the importance of Taiwan's meaningful and expanded participation in international organisations". (Reuters)