The U.S. House of Representatives members arrived in Taiwan on November 25 for a two-day visit to reassure that the United States is committed to supporting the self-governing democratic island nation.
The visit of the five members of the House of Representatives marks the second high-level visit by the U.S. lawmakers in November 2021.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said that the U.S. legislators held meetings with senior leaders of Taiwan, including President Tsai Ing-wen, but provided no further details about the U.S. lawmakers’ visit.
The U.S. delegation included Representatives Mark Takano, D-Calif, Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich, Colin Allred, D-Texas, Nancy Mace, R-S-C, and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.
The U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, who is part of the delegation, wrote on her Twitter pose “When news of our trip broke yesterday, my office received a blunt message from the Chinese Embassy, telling me to call off the trip.”
U.S. Representative Mark Takano said, “We are here in Taiwan this week to remind our partners and allies, after two trying years that we’ve endured, that our commitment and shared responsibility for a free and secure Indo-Pacific region remain stronger than ever.”
The U.S. relationship with Taiwan is “rock solid and has remained steadfast as the ties between us have deepened.” Mark Takano added.
During a meeting with Tsai Ing-wen, the U.S. chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the head of the bipartisan delegation, Mark Takano said that they are visiting Taiwan to remind the U.S. regional partners that Washington is committed to supporting its allies and the shared responsibility for a free and safe Indo-Pacific region remained stronger than ever.
“Madame President, I want to commend and praise your leadership. Under your administration, the bonds between us are more positive and productive than they have been for decades,” Takano said during a meeting with Tsai.
In response, Tsai stated that “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.”
The visit comes just a few weeks after six Republican members of Congress visited Taiwan. This is the third visit by U.S. lawmakers to Taiwan in the year 2021.
