Final Word from Thursday, August 6, 2020
Donald Trump is sending his health secretary, Alex Azar, to Taiwan in the coming days, as announced yesterday, making this the highest-level U.S. visit to the island since diplomatic relations were broken off in 1979. The Taiwan Travel Act of 2018 was signed into law by Trump "to encourage visits between the United States and Taiwan at all levels." The highly publicized visit of a top-level U.S. official just weeks before the U.S. presidential elections will overshadow the late-Aug. trip to Taiwan of Senate Pres. Miloš Vystrčil and increases the risk that the senator's trip will start to be perceived for exactly what it is - part of Trump's reelection campaign. Vystrčil probably doesn't even realize that he is an active participant in Trump's big anti-China push before Nov., but some of those egging him on certainly understand exactly what is going on. Vystrčil will learn that the one thing worse than being someone's lackey is being exposed as one for the entire world to see. [ Czech Republic Taipei minister president ]
Glossary of difficult words
to steal someone's thunder - to get praise or attention for doing something that someone else had planned to do;
to overshadow - to appear more prominent or important than;
push - a vigorous effort to do or obtain something;
to egg someone one - to encourage someone to do something foolish or risky;
lackey - a person who is obsequiously willing to obey or serve another person.