A US congressional delegation affirms bipartisan support for Taiwan in first visit since election
Taipei, Taiwan — A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation reaffirmed support for Taiwan on Thursday during a visit following the election of a new president. The delegation’s visit is the first by US lawmakers to the island since the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won a third straight term in the January 13 elections.
China, America’s main rival for global influence, claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring the self-governing island under its control. Beijing has strongly condemned the election of Lai Ching-te and appears ready to continue its policy of refusing to engage with the island’s government – a practice that has been in place since the election of outgoing President Tsai Ing-te wen in 2016.
“The United States’ support for Taiwan is strong. It is real, and it is 100% bipartisan,” said U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz Balart.
Balart, a Florida Republican, was joined by California Democrat Ami Bera. “There is no place for aggressive action in the 21st century. We must learn to live together, trade together, work together, solve problems together,” Bera said.
“Just know that we are proud of the people of Taiwan. We are proud of the relationship, and as strong as that relationship has always been. That is assured. It will be even stronger,” Balart said.
“So we look forward to working together to continue safeguarding Taiwan’s peace, prosperity (and) future. It is up to the people of Taiwan,” Bera said.
President-elect Lai thanked the visiting co-chairs of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus for their visit and said that “Today’s Taiwan is a Taiwan of the world.”
Lai also addressed continued US military aid and a proposed deal to avoid cross-taxation of corporations.
Beijing objects to any form of official contact between the US and Taiwan. In 2022, the country responded to a visit by then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi with some of the largest military maneuvers in years, including missile launches and a simulated blockade of Taiwan. It considers visits by foreign government officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty.
President Joe Biden, seeking to calm the grievance, insists there will be no change to America’s long-standing “one China” policy, which recognizes Beijing as China’s representative but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taiwan.
Washington broke formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 to recognize China, but U.S. law requires the country to ensure the island can defend itself. That has translated into Taiwan’s heavy dependence on U.S. military equipment and a law requiring Washington to treat threats against the island as a “serious concern.”
China regularly sends warplanes and naval ships to intimidate and harass Taiwan, with 18 aircraft and six ships operating near the island in the 24 hours before 6 a.m. Thursday. Three Chinese balloons were recorded crossing the island, although it remains unclear whether they had a military or intelligence-gathering purpose.
“We understand the pressure and kind of coercion from the Chinese Communist Party, and yet the Taiwanese people spoke loud and clear,” Balart said at a news conference on Thursday. “Taiwan is a beacon of hope and of life, of freedom and of democracy and it stands in such direct contrast to what we see coming from the Communist Party of China.”
Bera said Taiwan’s future “should not be dictated by an outside power. But the future of Taiwan belongs to the people of Taiwan.”
The US does not want to change the status quo between China and Taiwan, but “we must respond to external pressure and others who may change that status quo,” Bera said. own future.”