US lawmakers arrive in Taiwan amid China tensions

By Reuters and Bloomberg and published by The Straits Times

Taipei – A US lawmaker delegation arrived in Taiwan today (August 14) for a two-day visit during which they will meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the second high-level group to come amid continued military tensions with the island’s giant neighbour China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified, by force if necessary.

Beijing has been holding military drills around the island to express its anger at this month’s visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mrs. Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan drew a strong response from China, which conducted military exercises around the island for days after her departure.

The de facto US embassy in Taipei said the delegation is being led by Senator Ed Markey, who is being accompanied by four other lawmakers on what it described as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region.

The delegation includes US House Representatives John Garamendi, Alan Lowenthal, Don Beyer, and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.

Taiwan’s presidential office said the group would meet Ms. Tsai on Monday morning.

“Especially at a time when China is raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the region with military exercises, Markey leading a delegation to visit Taiwan once again demonstrates the United States Congress’ firm support for Taiwan,” it said in a statement.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry published pictures of four of the group being met at Taipei’s downtown Songshan airport having arrived on a US air force transport jet, while Markey arrived at the Taoyuan international airport.

“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other significant issues of mutual interest,” the de facto US embassy said.

While China’s drills around Taiwan have abated, it is still carrying out military activities. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said today it had detected 22 Chinese aircraft and six naval ships in and around the Taiwan Strait.

CAPTIONS:

Top: US Senator Ed Markey (left) with Taiwan deputy foreign minister Alexander Tah-ray Yui today, August 14, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan and published by The Straits Times

Below: The US lawmaker delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders, said the American Institute in Taiwan. Photo: AFP and published by The Straits Times

Front Page: A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 28, 2022. Photo: Reuters/Ann Wang and published by Swissinfo.ch