A U.S. removal of curbs on interactions with Taiwanese officials is a "big thing," Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on Monday, welcoming the step as a major boost for relations with the island's most important global backer.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the change on Saturday, in the waning days of the Republican Trump administration before Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency on Jan. 20.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has yet to formally respond, but the move is likely to increase Sino-U.S. tension.