U.S. lawmakers meet with president in surprise visit
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Five U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday in a surprise oneday visit intended to reaffirm the United States’ “rock solid” support for the self-governing island.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives arrived in Taiwan on Thursday night and met with senior leaders including Tsai, said the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy.
The visit comes as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades. Taiwan has been self-ruled since the two sides split during a civil war in 1949, but China considers the island part of its own territory.
“When news of our trip broke yesterday, my office received a blunt message from the Chinese Embassy, telling me to call off the trip,” Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat who is part of the delegation, wrote on Twitter.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian condemned the visit, calling it a violation of the “oneChina principle” under which Taiwan is considered part of China.
“That individual U.S. politicians want only to challenge the one-China principle and embolden the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces has aroused the strong indignation of 1.4 billion Chinese people,” Zhao said. He added that unification of Taiwan and China is an “unstoppable historical trend.”
Representatives Mark Takano, D-Riverside; Colin Allred, D-Texas; Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego; and Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; were also part of the delegation.
Takano said the U.S. relationship with Taiwan is “rock solid and has remained steadfast as the ties between us have deepened.”
Tsai, who welcomed the lawmakers at the Presidential Office in Taipei, noted the two sides’ cooperation in veterans’ affairs, economic issues and trade while reiterating the island’s close alignment with the U.S.
“Taiwan will continue to step up cooperation with the United States in order to uphold our shared values of freedom and democracy and to ensure peace and stability in the region,” Tsai said.