US Congressional Delegation Visits Taiwan to Meet Newly Elected President Lai Ching-te

Meeting with Taiwan President on the 27th... US-China Tensions Expected to Escalate

A U.S. congressional delegation is making a sudden visit to Taiwan to meet with newly inaugurated Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. This visit by U.S. lawmakers is expected to further escalate U.S.-China tensions by provoking China, which conducted military exercises encircling Taiwan in dissatisfaction with President Lai's inauguration.

According to major foreign media on the 26th (local time), the congressional delegation led by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, will visit Taiwan and meet President Lai on the morning of the 27th.

The delegation includes Chairman McCaul, along with Representatives Young Kim (Republican, California), Joe Wilson (Republican, South Carolina), Andy Barr (Republican, Kentucky), Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, California), and Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat, Pennsylvania). The delegation will stay in Taiwan until the 30th.

The Taiwanese Presidential Office stated that President Lai and the congressional delegation will exchange views on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chairman McCaul emphasized in a statement, "Taiwan is a thriving democracy," and added, "The United States stands firmly with our steadfast partner and will work to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."

This visit marks the first visit by the U.S. Congress since President Lai's inauguration and comes immediately after China conducted military exercises encircling Taiwan for two days starting on the 23rd. After President Lai expressed a position of maintaining the status quo, including sovereignty, in cross-strait (China and Taiwan) relations during his inaugural speech, China strongly opposed it, accusing Taiwan of advocating independence, and conducted joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas.

The visit by the U.S. congressional delegation is also expected to provoke China. Previously, in August 2022, China conducted large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan in response to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. In April last year, China also conducted military exercises encircling Taiwan citing the meeting between then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the reason.