A group of United States Congress members has met with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen.
The group also met with Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won last month’s presidential election and will take office in May, 2024.
The delegation, led by Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, is expected to be in Taiwan until Saturday, February 24, 2024, as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
Other members include John Moolenaar, Dusty Johnson, and Seth Moulton.
The delegation’s visit is aimed at bolstering US-Taiwan relations, regional security and trade and other issues.
In the meeting with the Taiwanese President, Gallagher highlighted the bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, which he described as “stronger and more rock-solid than ever now.”
Gallagher thanked Tsai, who is nearing the end of her second and last term in office, for her leadership in Taiwan and for distinguishing herself “as a leader within the free world.”
On her part, Tsai thanked the U.S. for continuing to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities.
“Together we are safeguarding freedom and democracy and maintaining regional peace,” she said, adding that she hoped to see more exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan in a range of domains.
Meanwhile, Krishnamoorthi asserted that Taiwan is one of the United States’ “closest friends” and a role model for democracy.
“It’s one of the most robust, most vibrant, one of the most exciting democracies in the world,” Krishnamoorthi said.
“And this year, when half of the world’s population will be going to the polls to vote, you provided a role model for how elections should be conducted, and for that we salute you on this peaceful transfer of power, and you are an exemplar of democracy.”
Raja Krishnamoorthi
During the meeting with Lai, the Taiwanese Vice President thanked the United States for its support.
However, he admitted that Taiwan is facing a rapidly changing global geopolitical landscape and also tremendous pressure and diplomatic, military and economic coercion from China.
Gallagher, a vocal critic of China, voiced his belief that U.S support for Taiwan would be unaffected by the result of his country’s 2024 presidential election.
“I am very confident that support for Taiwan will continue regardless of who occupies the White House,” he said.
He also warned Beijing against any attempt to invade Taiwan.
“If Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party were to ever make the incredibly foolish decision to attempt an invasion of Taiwan… that effort would fail,” he said during the meeting with Lai.
China Decries U.S Delegation Visit To Taiwan
As expected, Chinese foreign ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning condemned the U.S lawmakers’ visit to Taiwan.
Mao stated at a press conference that China always resolutely opposes any form of official exchange between the U.S and Taiwan authorities, “and resolutely opposes the U.S’ interference in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext.”
“We urge the U.S to recognise the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue,” Mao said, urging the U.S to adhere to the “one-China principle” and stop official exchanges with Taiwan.
The U.S visit in show of support to Taiwan was certain to draw criticism from China, which opposes such visits and sees them as a challenge to its claim of sovereignty over the island.
A visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan two years ago resulted in China dispatching warships and military aircraft to all sides of the self-governing island democracy, and firing ballistic missiles into the waters nearby.
The U.S., like most countries, does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country but maintains robust informal relations with the island and is bound by its own laws to provide it with the weapons it needs to defend itself.
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