Congress follows up Pelosi visit
Five-member US delegation in Taiwan for talks
ADemocrat-led delegation from the United States Congress arrived in Taiwan in a surprise visit less than two weeks after the visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island that has so angered China.
For almost a week after Pelosi arrived in Taiwan China had carried out war games, using missiles air and sea power to simulate attacks.
While those exercises have now ended, China has maintained military pressure on the island. Yesterday, before news of the latest visit, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said 11 Chinese military planes had entered Taiwan’s identification zone or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, which usually acts as an unofficial border.
Yesterday, a five-member delegation, led by Democratic senator Ed Markey, arrived in Taipei. They are in Taiwan as part of a wider visit to the Indo-pacific, according to the de facto US embassy in Taiwan, the American Institute.
They will meet senior leaders to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains and climate change. The delegation was also to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, her office said, after which they were scheduled to leave the island.
“Especially at a time when China is raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the region with military exercises, Markey leading a delegation once again demonstrates the US Congress’ firm support,” the presidential office said.
Pelosi became the most senior US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years when she led a senior congressional delegation to the democratic island this month.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and objects to it having any official contact with foreign governments. The Communist Party has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
Taipei says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. In recent years, Taipei has further strengthened relations with Washington and other “like-minded” democracies.
Beijing’s expanding military activities have alarmed Washington and its allies. Yesterday, China’s military was scheduled to send fighter jets and bombers to Thailand for a joint exercise with the Thai military. —
Telegraph Group Ltd