US congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan

A delegation of US lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a two-day visit, during which they are scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, reported Reuters. On August 14-15, a delegation led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey will visit the island.

The visit of the second delegation of American lawmakers in a month is also reported by the American Institute of Taiwan.

“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwanese leaders to discuss US-Taiwanese relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other important issues of mutual interest,” reads the website institute.

In addition to Senator Markey, the delegation included four members of the House of Representatives. Taiwan’s president’s office said a group of congressmen would meet with him on Monday morning, Reuters reported.

“Especially at a time when China is escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait and the region through military exercises, Marki, leading the delegation to Taiwan, once again demonstrates the US Congress’ strong support for Taiwan,” the statement said.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense also today announced the discovery of 22 Chinese aircraft and six naval ships in and around the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, it is known that the military exercises of the PRC with live firing in six water areas around Taiwan ceased on August 8.

China’s People’s Liberation Army began the exercise on Aug. 4 following a visit by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives to the island, despite warnings that the move would be followed by serious Chinese retaliation. Pelosi stated in an interview with NBC that he does not regret his visit to Taiwan.

On August 10, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the State Council Press Office released the white paper “Taiwan Issue and China’s Reunification in the New Era.” It says that China will continue to make efforts to peacefully reunite with Taiwan, but the authorities are also ready to use force to establish control over the island.

The PRC considers Taiwan to be its province, so the government opposes any contacts between the island’s administration and countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations. China has repeatedly noted that it will take “serious measures” to protect the sovereignty of the country and its territorial integrity.