Rare secret visit to Israel by senior Taiwanese diplomat revealed

Like most other countries, Israel only officially recognizes only Beijing, not Taipei – a reality that makes such senior-level Taiwanese visits highly unusual.

By World Israel News Staff

A rare and discreet diplomatic visit has drawn international attention after Reuters reported that Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu traveled secretly to Israel in recent weeks, reflecting deepening security engagement between the two democracies despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

According to the report, Wu’s trip took place sometime over the past several weeks, possibly earlier this month. Such travel is considered highly unusual; while senior Taiwanese diplomats do occasionally go abroad, visits to countries with which Taiwan does not maintain official relations are seldom revealed.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry declined to confirm whether Wu had been in Israel. In a statement, the ministry said, “Taiwan and Israel share the values of freedom and democracy, and will continue to pragmatically promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation” in fields including trade, technology and culture, adding that it welcomes more “mutually beneficial forms of cooperation.”

Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Wu met with Israeli officials during the trip, though they declined to identify whom he saw. It also remains unclear whether the discussions included Taiwan’s new T-Dome air defense system, unveiled in October by President Lai Ching-te and believed to draw in part on Israeli defense technology.

The visit comes amid growing security ties between Taipei and Jerusalem. Like most other countries, Israel officially recognizes only Beijing, not Taipei – a reality that makes such senior-level Taiwanese visits highly unusual. Still, cooperation has been steadily expanding. Last month, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that “in the fields of technology and security there is mutual learning and interaction” between the two sides.

Taiwan has openly expressed support for Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza, with officials in Taipei saying the events reinforced their sense of shared democratic values and common security threats.

The broader geopolitical backdrop remains tense. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and claims sovereignty over the island, which has operated as a self-governing state since 1949 when Nationalist forces retreated there after losing the Chinese civil war.

Beijing continues to warn that any move toward formal independence could trigger military action. Western intelligence assessments have suggested China is preparing for possible coercive steps by 2027, and in January, China conducted an unusual blockade-style military drill around the island.

Wu’s reported visit reflects a subtle but notable shift in Israel-Taiwan engagement at a time of rising regional pressures and shared concerns about security, technology and democratic resilience.