"TAIPEI, TAIWAN — US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong traveled to Taiwan this week on an official visit under the recently approved Taiwan Travel Act. The visit took place without strong condemnation from China.
"Before the bill’s passage, senior US officials had visited Taiwan six times since 1979. That year formal relations broke off, and Washington formed diplomatic ties with China. The U.S. government still sees Taiwan as a staunch informal ally. In 2014, Washington sent its highest-level visitor, then-Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [which is a cabinet position] Gina McCarthy.
"China passed an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait Wednesday [Mar 21] but did not say whether US-Taiwan relations had sparked the move.
"China's foreign ministry protested Wednesday over the Taiwan Travel Act, but at a media briefing Thursday it declined to comment directly on Wong's visit. 'We urge the U.S. side to … stop official exchanges and contacts in any form with Taiwan (and) prudently and properly handle issues associated with Taiwan, so as not to cause serious damage to China-US relations and to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,' ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Wednesday.
Note: Having been based in Taiwan, Mr Jennings used to be a reporter with Associated Press, but in recent years is freelance.