The U.S. government's decision to send its most senior official to Taiwan in four decades is another clear sign that President Donald Trump is pushing ahead with his hardline stance on China, believing that it better serves his interest in getting re-elected in November.
Experts say the Trump administration is likely to continue to strengthen its ties with Taiwan, over which China claims sovereignty, adding further tension to the U.S.-China relationship, which is already fraught with disputes ranging from trade, technology, Hong Kong and control of the South China Sea.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit the self-ruled island in six years and the highest-level U.S. visitor since 1979, the year Washington switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, according to the U.S. government.