TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – If U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris wins the Democratic presidential nomination and the November election, she is likely to continue the Biden administration’s policies in support of Taiwan, reports said Tuesday (July 23).

After President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the race Sunday (July 21), Harris became the favorite to represent the Democrats in the Nov. 5 presidential election. As a result, attention in Asia focused on her views on regional issues, including Taiwan and China, per Radio Taiwan International.

She will follow the Biden administration’s lead, supporting Taiwan but not Taiwan independence, according to Dennis Wilder, a China expert who served on the National Security Council. She is also likely to take a hawkish stance on China during the campaign to strengthen her chances against Republican nominee Donald Trump, Wilder told VOA. During visits to Japan and South Korea in September 2022, Harris emphasized cross-strait peace and Indo-Pacific regional stability.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met her when he was still vice president at the inauguration of Xiomara Castro as president of Honduras on January 27, 2022. Harris reportedly discussed the common interests of the U.S. and Central America, and compared them to the common interests of the U.S. and Taiwan.

She also met Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) twice at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits in Bangkok in 2022 and San Francisco in 2023.