Gov. Cathy Hochul's administration plans to open a trade office in Taiwan, amid accusations that a former official spied for China and tried to block efforts to recognize the country's sovereignty. This is a bold move.
The state's economic development arm, Empire State Development, last week announced plans to open a Global New York international trade office aimed at building relationships with the Democratic state that China claims as its own.
The announcement follows the bombshell indictment of former official Linda Sun, who prosecutors say used her state government position to block Taiwan's recognition of autonomy.
In the aftermath of the spying scandal, Hochul took a cold stance toward recognizing Taiwan.
“I support the Biden administration in terms of representing our country's foreign interests. I have no intention of interfering with that,” Hochul said in a statement to the Post regarding whether to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign and independent state. spoke in response to questions.
According to a report from national reviewHope Knight, a senior official in the Hochul administration and head of ESD, also attended an event to celebrate Taiwan's National Day last week.
The governor's views on Taiwan have come under the spotlight after Son, a former mid-level official in the city of Hochul under former Governor Andrew Cuomo, was accused of corruption. Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, have pleaded not guilty to violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, money laundering and alien smuggling.
The Fed said Son used his post in the Governor-General's Office to remove references to Taiwan from press releases and to block meetings between state officials and diplomats in Taipei.
“I have succeeded in ending all relations between the two of them.” [Taipei Economic and Cultural Office] And the state. I've denied everything [r]” Sun wrote in a January 2019 message to Chinese consulate officials included in the indictment.
Federal authorities allege that Son received millions of dollars in gifts from China in exchange for the work. These included her $3.5 million Manhasset home, a luxury condo in Hawaii, a 2024 Ferrari Roma, and Nanjing-style salted duck prepared by the Chinese consulate's personal chef, according to the indictment.
At one point, Sun worked at ESD, where her portfolio also included oversight of the Global NY program, which included the newly created trade office.
