Breaking News! FAPA Applauds Taiwan Ambassador Attending Biden/Harris Inauguration – Marks First Time Since 1979
Taiwan ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao’s attendance at the Biden inauguration on January 20 marked the first time since 1979 that a Taiwan “Ambassador” was officially invited to a US presidential inauguration.
Hsiao’s attendance came as a boost to those in Taiwan who expressed concern about the new Biden administration being less friendly than that of President Trump to the country of Taiwan.
Hsiao was officially invited by the US Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, a news release issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US read.
The news came as a surprise as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been reticent about the matter, while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members had accused the Democratic Progressive Party administration of hedging its bets on the Republican Party.
Outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) tweeted in the evening of January 20: “I was gratified to see #Taiwan represented at the inauguration for the first time since 1979 today. I commend the new admin. for this invitation, & encourage them to build upon the progress made on U.S.-Taiwan relations to reflect the challenges & geopolitical realities we face.”
FAPA President Minze Chien adds: “This extra courtesy and honor that ambassador Hsiao was granted today illustrates and underlines that keeping Taiwan free is in the AMERICAN interest – not just in the Republican or Democratic Party’s interest.”
