Taipei: Chiu Chui-cheng, head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), is set to visit the United States from September 6 to 14, where he will deliver a significant speech on cross-strait relations in Washington, D.C. This visit marks a rare public address in the U.S. by Taiwan's leading official responsible for managing relations with China.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Heritage Foundation has invited Chiu to deliver a speech on September 12, titled "Maintaining the Peaceful and Stable Status Quo Across the Taiwan Strait is in Line with the Shared Interests of Taiwan and the United States." The MAC revealed in a news release that Chiu's address will focus on Taipei's evaluation of the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and the government's cross-strait policy.

The Heritage Foundation's event description indicates that Chiu will emphasize the importance of preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, discuss the threat posed by China to Taiwan and the region, and explain how Taiwan's current government is working to maintain a peaceful status quo and strengthen ties with the United States. Chiu will engage in a discussion with Senior Research Fellow Steve Yates on how a free, secure, and prosperous Taiwan contributes to regional stability and bolsters America's global standing.

In addition to his speech on September 12, Chiu plans to meet with officials from the U.S. executive and legislative branches, as well as experts from think tanks and members of Taiwanese communities in the U.S., according to the MAC. These meetings aim to explain Taiwan's cross-strait policy and encourage broader attention to issues related to the Taiwan Strait.

The MAC confirmed with CNA that this will be Chiu's first visit to the U.S. since assuming office in May last year. The last MAC head to visit the U.S. was Chen Ming-tong, who made the trip in 2018 to speak at a seminar co-organized by the Heritage Foundation and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.