A US delegation led by Republican lawmaker and vocal China critic Mike Gallagher arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for conferences with the island’s high management.
Gallagher, the chair of the Home of Representatives Choose Committee on China, was accompanied by 4 different lawmakers on the journey that ends Saturday.
Gallagher: ‘The USA stands with Taiwan’
“Again and again, Taiwan has proven the world learn how to stand as much as the CCP’s [Communist Party of China] bullying and never solely survive however thrive,” Gallagher mentioned in a press release that was launched after the delegation’s arrival.
“The USA stands with Taiwan. By selling deeper ties between our leaders and our economies, we are able to improve peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait,” the assertion mentioned.
Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed the US lawmakers, thanking them for the “staunch US assist for Taiwan’s democracy via concrete motion.”
“We’ll proceed to advance our worldwide partnerships and have interaction with the world. In 2024, we hope to see much more Taiwan-US exchanges in a spread of domains,” she mentioned.
The delegation’s go to will deal with US-Taiwan relations, regional safety and commerce, amongst different points, in line with a committee assertion.
“At the moment we come, as Democrats and Republicans, to point out our bipartisan assist for this partnership, which because of your management is stronger and extra rock-solid than ever,” Gallagher instructed Tsai within the presidential workplace in a gathering which was broadcast reside on-line.
“At the moment, freedom is underneath assault from authoritarian aggression and we should be extra vigilant than ever if we wish to go on this reward of freedom we have now been given to the subsequent technology,” he mentioned, calling Tsai “a pacesetter throughout the free world.”
The lawmakers’ go to comes after final month’s presidential election in Taiwan that noticed present Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Get together emerge victorious.
Beijing has referred to as Lai a “troublemaker” and a “separatist.”
US delegation additionally meets President-elect Lai Ching-te
In a separate assembly, Vice President Lai Ching-te, who assumes the presidency on Might 20, mentioned that dealing with nice strain from China, Taiwan will proceed to reinforce its self protection.
Gallagher, in response, mentioned the US will deepen partnership with Taiwan as Lai takes workplace and that if China makes an attempt to invade Taiwan the trouble would fail.
The USA is Taiwan’s most important ally.
The island has been on the middle of hovering tensions with China, which claims it as its territory.
The Chinese language Overseas Ministry responded to the go to by the US lawmakers to Taiwan on Thursday, saying it opposed Washington’s interference in Taiwan affairs “in any approach and underneath any pretext.”
“We urge the USA to acknowledge the intense complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan situation,” mentioned ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Two years in the past, a go to by then-US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei had led to China dispatching warships and navy plane to all sides of the island democracy and firing ballistic missiles into the waters close by.
Gallagher, the chair of the Home of Representatives Choose Committee on China, was accompanied by 4 different lawmakers on the journey that ends Saturday.
Gallagher: ‘The USA stands with Taiwan’
“Again and again, Taiwan has proven the world learn how to stand as much as the CCP’s [Communist Party of China] bullying and never solely survive however thrive,” Gallagher mentioned in a press release that was launched after the delegation’s arrival.
“The USA stands with Taiwan. By selling deeper ties between our leaders and our economies, we are able to improve peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait,” the assertion mentioned.
Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed the US lawmakers, thanking them for the “staunch US assist for Taiwan’s democracy via concrete motion.”
“We’ll proceed to advance our worldwide partnerships and have interaction with the world. In 2024, we hope to see much more Taiwan-US exchanges in a spread of domains,” she mentioned.
The delegation’s go to will deal with US-Taiwan relations, regional safety and commerce, amongst different points, in line with a committee assertion.
“At the moment we come, as Democrats and Republicans, to point out our bipartisan assist for this partnership, which because of your management is stronger and extra rock-solid than ever,” Gallagher instructed Tsai within the presidential workplace in a gathering which was broadcast reside on-line.
“At the moment, freedom is underneath assault from authoritarian aggression and we should be extra vigilant than ever if we wish to go on this reward of freedom we have now been given to the subsequent technology,” he mentioned, calling Tsai “a pacesetter throughout the free world.”
The lawmakers’ go to comes after final month’s presidential election in Taiwan that noticed present Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Get together emerge victorious.
Beijing has referred to as Lai a “troublemaker” and a “separatist.”
US delegation additionally meets President-elect Lai Ching-te
In a separate assembly, Vice President Lai Ching-te, who assumes the presidency on Might 20, mentioned that dealing with nice strain from China, Taiwan will proceed to reinforce its self protection.
Gallagher, in response, mentioned the US will deepen partnership with Taiwan as Lai takes workplace and that if China makes an attempt to invade Taiwan the trouble would fail.
The USA is Taiwan’s most important ally.
The island has been on the middle of hovering tensions with China, which claims it as its territory.
The Chinese language Overseas Ministry responded to the go to by the US lawmakers to Taiwan on Thursday, saying it opposed Washington’s interference in Taiwan affairs “in any approach and underneath any pretext.”
“We urge the USA to acknowledge the intense complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan situation,” mentioned ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Two years in the past, a go to by then-US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei had led to China dispatching warships and navy plane to all sides of the island democracy and firing ballistic missiles into the waters close by.
