Breakfast with Taiwan鈥檚 'cat warrior'
| Washington
Bi-khim Hsiao loves cats, and as Taiwan鈥檚 de facto ambassador to the United States, she has turned that into a brand: 鈥渃at warrior.鈥� It鈥檚 her response to what has come to be known as China鈥檚 aggressive, 鈥渨olf warrior鈥� diplomacy.
鈥淐ats are adaptable in difficult environments,鈥� Ms. Hsiao explained when I asked about the nickname after our Monitor Breakfast for reporters on May 30. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e flexible. They can walk on tightropes, and they have nine lives.鈥�
It is an apt metaphor for the precarious position of Taiwan, an island of 23 million people sitting off China鈥檚 coast 鈥� a 鈥渂ad neighborhood,鈥� as Ms. Hsiao put it. In recent years, authoritarian China has grown increasingly bellicose toward democratic Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory. Taiwan, a leading global economy, has trod carefully but deliberately as it prepares for all possibilities.
The idea that China could invade Taiwan at some point infuses our discussion. The unassuming Ms. Hsiao plays things cool, but makes clear her government is working to avert any attempt at a takeover.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing imminent about the possibility of war,鈥� says the American-educated diplomat and former politician. 鈥淎nd we are doing everything we can to deter and to prevent any potential for conflict.鈥�
My article on the breakfast聽drew rough parallels to Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, a tragedy that Taiwan is watching closely. Ms. Hsiao hopes that Ukrainians鈥� fierce resistance 鈥� and strong Western support 鈥� will itself help deter China. The New York Times鈥櫬犅爃as more on this theme.
The C-SPAN video of the breakfast聽.
After our breakfast ended, Ms. Hsiao had to run off to her next appointment. But in our quick chat about felines, she asserted that 鈥渃ats are more likable鈥� than wolves. Certainly that鈥檚 true when considering which to keep as a house pet. In fact, when Ms. Hsiao came to Washington three years ago to take up her post, she brought her four cats, and they鈥檙e still here with her.
Cats can also have an independent streak 鈥� another reason the metaphor works for Taiwan.
