Biden invites Taiwan to Summit for Democracy

WASHINGTON, Nov 23, Reuters - The Biden administration invited Taiwan to its Summit for Democracy next month, according to a list of participants published on Tuesday, a move likely to infuriate China, which views the democratically governed island as its territory.

The first-of- its kind gathering is a test of President Joe Biden's assertion that he would return the United States to global leadership to confront the authoritarian forces led by China and Russia, which was announced in his first foreign policy address in February.

There are 110 participants on the State Department's invitation list for the virtual event on December 9 and 10 that aims to help fight democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms around the world. The list does not include China or Russia.

The invite for Taiwan comes as China has stepped up pressure on countries to sever relations with the island, which is considered by Beijing to have no right to the trappings of a state. During a virtual meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, sharp differences over Taiwan persisted.

Biden praised the United States' support for the One China policy under which it recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei, but he also said that he strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Xi said that those in Taiwan seeking independence and their supporters in the United States were playing with fire, according to the state news agency Xinhua.

Rights groups question whether Biden's Summit for Democracy can push those world leaders who are invited to take meaningful action, some accused of harboring authoritarian tendencies.

The State Department list shows the event will bring together mature democracies such as France and Sweden, but also countries such as the Philippines, India and Poland, where activists say democracy is under threat.

Other notable absentees were U.S. allies Egypt and NATO member Turkey. Israel and Iraq are the only two countries invited to be invited to represent the Middle East.