US downgraded KMT chair's reception to 'humiliate' Xi Jinping, says author

Johnny Chiang, the chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party, met with what sources described as "desk officer" level officials at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) headquarters during his recent visit to the US. This reception has ignited discussion, with some interpreting it as a deliberate downgrade in protocol.

“

My God! This is no longer just a slap in the face, it's simply humiliation!

Writer Chiu argued that the US intentionally offered Chiang a "broken" reception, a level below typical engagements for high-profile Taiwanese political figures. She detailed the US State Department's hierarchy, placing desk officers at the lowest rung, responsible for basic tasks like report writing and scheduling, lacking any policy-making authority. Chiu likened the situation to a major corporation's chairman being met by a mere office clerk.

“

Desk officers are the lowest-level civil servants in the State Department system, essentially project handlers whose core work involves writing reports, looking up information, and arranging meetings. Their level is so low that they possess no policy-making authority and are excluded from the Trump core circle.

Chiu suggested this perceived snub was a strategic move by the Trump administration to "humiliate" Chiang and, by extension, Chinese President Xi Jinping. She posited that Xi had used Chiang's visit to demonstrate Beijing's influence within Taiwan, aiming to disrupt US plans in the Indo-Pacific. Chiu believes Trump responded with a blunt, business-like approach, signaling that Chiang held little value in his eyes and that US policy in the Taiwan Strait was non-negotiable.

“

The Trump administration is using the 'punishment' of Johnny Chiang to remotely humiliate Xi Jinping.

This reception for Chiang was contrasted with the treatment of previous KMT leaders. Chiu recalled that KMT Chairman Eric Chu met with Laura Rosenberger, then a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Dan Biers, Director of the Office of Taiwan Coordination at the State Department, during his 2022 US visit. Earlier KMT leaders like Ma Ying-jeou and Lien Chan had met with officials at the Deputy Assistant Secretary or Director level. Chiu concluded that Chiang's reception marked a historic low for a KMT chairman's visit to the US.

“

You send your agent to my territory, and in my eyes, she is worthless, only fit to have tea with my junior office staff.