A US congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for an unannounced visit, a US diplomatic source on the island said.
The visit, which is expected to last two days according to the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy, comes days after the end of Beijing’s largest military exercises around Taiwan, in response to a visit to the island of the president of the House of Representatives of the United States, Nancy Pelosi.
Taipei accused China of using Ms. Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for an invasion. In response, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the region.
Washington will strengthen its commercial relationship with Taiwan and carry out new air and sea crossings in the strait, in response to China’s “provocative” actions, Kurt Campbell, White House coordinator for Asia-Pacific, announced on Friday.
China regards Taiwan, with a population of around 23 million, as one of its provinces, which it has yet to successfully reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War (1949).
Opposed to any initiative that gives international legitimacy to the Taiwanese authorities, Beijing opposes any official contact between Taiwan and other countries.
China sees Pelosi’s visit as a major provocation
US officials visit the island frequently, but China considers the visit of Nancy Pelosi, one of the highest figures in the US state, to have been a major provocation.
“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security issues, trade and investment, climate change,” the US institute said.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister praised the visit.
“As China continues to escalate tensions in the region, the United States Congress has once again sent a high-level delegation to Taiwan, demonstrating a friendship that is undeterred by China’s threats and underscoring the resolve of support from the United States to Taiwan.
US lawmakers will meet in particular with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, it added.
Source: BFM TV
