Amid China’s recent maritime encirclement of Taiwan, NBC News reported that a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on the 26th. The delegation, consisting of six members of the House of Representatives, plans to meet with Lai Ching-te, the newly inaugurated President of Taiwan, on the morning of the 27th and stay until the 30th.
Before he arrived in Taiwan, Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stressed to NBC News the importance of showing strong support for Taiwan, noting that this is their leverage. This statement was made in the context of his second visit to Taiwan, following his initial trip in April of the previous year.
A spokesperson from the Foreign Affairs Committee explained to NBC News that the delegation plans to meet with high-ranking Taiwanese officials to understand the new government’s priorities and objectives. The delegation will discuss defensive weapons, among other topics, with Taiwanese officials. Other members of the delegation include Representatives Young Kim (Republican, California), Joe Wilson (Republican, South Carolina), Andy Barr (Republican, Kentucky), Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, California), and Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat, Pennsylvania).
Meanwhile, China has strongly protested the visit of a U.S. delegation, interpreting it as an action that encourages and supports “Taiwanese independence” separatist forces. This comes after a former delegation of high-ranking U.S. officials attended President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration. Previously, China had demonstrated its opposition to Lai Ching-te by conducting military exercises around Taiwan on the 23rd and 24th.
The tough responses from both sides regarding cross-strait relations are expected to continue for now. “The million-dollar question that we’re all trying to answer is whether or not this will become a normal thing under the Lai administration, or whether this is just a necessary response that we knew the PRC was going to do?” said Lev Nachman, a political scientist and assistant professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. The Telegraph reported on the 26th that China is preparing a fleet of landing ships and civilian vessels for an invasion of Taiwan. It has reportedly positioned additional transport ships to land hundreds of armored vehicles in Taiwan.
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