Taiwan's vice president-elect meets U.S. national security officials

Washington, Feb. 5 (CNA) Vice President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with White House National Security Council officials Wednesday in Washington, D.C., the highest-level Taiwanese official to meet with such officials since the U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.

Lai attended a 70-minute meeting, accompanied by Taiwan's representative to the U.S. Stanley Kuo (高碩泰), former Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Vincent Chao (趙怡翔), director of the political division of Taiwan's representative office in the U.S.

Lai did not respond to media questions regarding details about the meeting.

Lai, whose office has stressed that his trip is in an individual capacity, is attending the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual high-profile gathering of political and religious leaders traditionally held on the first Thursday of February.

Lai has also met with U.S. politicians during his time in Washington, including Senators Marco Rubio, Jim Risch, Bob Menendez, Cory Gardner and Chuck Grassley.