Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu recently made an undisclosed visit to Israel in the wake of the two nations’ public calls to strengthen relations, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing three sources with knowledge about the matter.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment, and Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry refrained from confirming the visit.
“Taiwan and Israel share the values of freedom and democracy, and will continue to pragmatically promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation” in areas such as trade, technology and culture, and welcome more “mutually beneficial forms of cooperation,” said Taipei’s Foreign Ministry in a statement, according to Reuters.
An Israeli official told Israel Hayom, on condition of anonymity, that Wu had indeed met with two Israeli lawmakers from the opposition and coalition, but played down the visit’s importance.
He said that the foreign ministry declined to meet with the top diplomat as part of its non-confrontation policy with Beijing.
Due to Taipei’s ongoing dispute with Beijing—the latter claiming that the democratic island is part of China—only 12 countries worldwide maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Israel has a representative office in Taipei, known as the Israeli Economic and Cultural Office, which de facto functions like an embassy.
In November, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung said that his nation seeks to strengthen ties with the Jewish state, which has shown support for Taipei unmatched by other Mideast countries.
The island nation’s top diplomat pointed to Israel’s cross-party gesture last summer—when 72 Knesset members signed a declaration supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in key international organizations—as an example of the Jewish state’s backing.
Lin added that “Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China” principle.
Israel and Taiwan have maintained strong relations throughout the war in Gaza.
