Taipei [Taiwan], August 22 : Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley emphasized the "moral clarity" of supporting Taiwan in its ongoing tensions with China during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te on Thursday, as reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).
Haley, who served as the U.S.' top envoy to the U.N. from January 2017 to December 2018 under former President Donald Trump, stressed the urgent need for moral clarity in global affairs. In her address at the Presidential Office, Haley contrasted Taiwan's values with China's approach of "control and suppression," a difference particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taiwan's Central News Agency reported Haley's critique of China's handling of the outbreak, accusing it of concealing the virus's origins and contributing to global suffering due to its "arrogance."
She praised Taiwan for its efforts to warn the World Health Organization (WHO) about the virus despite facing international isolation due to Chinese pressure. Haley reiterated that her visit is meant to show American support for Taiwan and to encourage a strong partnership across military, business, and academic domains. According to the Central News Agency, Haley stressed the importance of addressing potential threats proactively, especially considering global conflicts such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War.
"We can't wait to see if China invades Taiwan; we need to get in front of the situation now," Haley said.
President Lai welcomed Haley on her first visit to Taiwan and thanked her for her support during her U.N. tenure. Lai also acknowledged Haley's recent address at the Taipei-based Ketagalan Forum, where she called on the U.N. to "stop ignoring" Taiwan and argued for its inclusion as a "full member" of the international organization. According to Taiwan's Central News Agency, Lai reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to strengthening its national defence and economic resilience while standing with democracies worldwide.
Haley's visit primarily focused on her speech at the Ketagalan Forum, an annual international seminar funded by the Taiwan government that deals with security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Central News Agency noted that Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), was expelled from the WHO in 1972 following the U.N.'s decision to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole representative of China.
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