U.S. OKs 'private' visit by Taiwan defense chief

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a move sure to elicit an angry response from China, Taiwan's defense minister will travel to the United States later this week.

State Department spokesman Frederick Jones said that Defense Minister Tang Yiau-ming will make a "private visit" to participate in the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council's conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, next week.

Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly is scheduled to deliver a keynote address. As to whether Kelly might meet separately with Tang, the State Department said, "We meet from time to time with Taiwan representatives, but we do not get into details regarding these contacts."

High-level visits by Taiwanese officials -- even if classified as private -- typically draw high-level condemnation from Beijing. China considers the island a renegade province undeserving of international recognition of any kind.

China lodged a protest with the U.S. Embassy over a May 2001 trip to New York by Taiwan's current president, Chen Shui-bian. Though the trip was considered unofficial, Chen met with 22 members of the U.S. Congress and then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Chinese officials accused the United States of giving Chen a platform to promote independence for Taiwan.

In 1995, Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui delivered an address at Cornell University, his alma mater. After Lee's visit, China staged a massive round of military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait that escalated into a military face-off between China and the United States, which sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to the Taiwan Strait during the maneuvers.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 1979 and continues to adhere to what is known as the "one-China policy," saying there is only one China and Taiwan is a part of it.