Secret handshake: Top Taiwan official meets Biden at major Pacific summit
A quick meet-up between US president and Taiwans rep at APEC summit turned into something more than just a handshake. White House tries to keep it low-key while Taiwan shares more details
At yesterdays APEC gathering in Lima Lin Hsin-i Taiwans top-level rep had a non-planned meet-up with Joe Biden – which turned into a mind-opening chat (while Justin Trudeau stood nearby listening)
The get-together happened at this once-a-year meet-up where both Taiwan and mainland China show up: its one of those rare chances for Taiwan to join big-time world talks. They cant send their president tho cause China sees Taiwan as its own land and dont like them doing state-level stuff
Lin who runs the gov-backed money fund Taiwania Capital didnt waste his chance: he said thanks to Biden for helping make US-Taiwan ties better and asked him to come visit the island whenever he wants. The White House folks tried to play it cool saying its just a quick hi-and-bye thing
Before this Lin had a sit-down with Antony Blinken to talk about making US-Taiwan friendship stronger; they went over some ideas about keeping things peaceful in their part of world. Plus Blinken mentioned how Taiwanʼs helping put internet cables under Pacific Ocean with US and its friends
The US has been Taiwans biggest supporter since way back – giving them weapons and backing them up even tho they had to switch official friendship to Beijing like 45 years ago. Taiwanʼs gov keeps saying theyʼll do their own thing no matter what mainland China thinks about it
