Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives (CNN) Kevin McCarthy is poised to meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday – a historic event coming amid warnings from China.
The California Republican’s office shared details of the meeting in a news release Monday morning. The release states that McCarthy will host a bipartisan meeting with Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.
That group includes Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, a member of the Democratic leadership, and the bipartisan leaders of the Special Committee on China, according to a copy of the invitation list obtained by CNN.
The meeting has been long-awaited and is sure to shake the strained US-China relationship, which became even more strained after a Chinese spy balloon flew over North America and was then shot down by US warplanes in February.
CNN previously reported that Tsai is visiting Central America on a diplomatic mission that includes stops in the United States. China has pledged to “resolutely fight back” should Tsai and McCarthy meet.
China’s ruling Communist Party claims the island’s self-governing democracy as part of its territory, though it has never controlled it.
As part of the “One China” policy, the US recognizes China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the island. China’s leadership has refused to rule out the use of military force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.
The White House has declined to say whether it supports the planned meeting between McCarthy and Taiwan’s president.
“I would refer you to the spokesman’s office and President Tsai’s office for details on a possible meeting,” Deputy Chief Press Secretary Olivia Dalton responded to a question from CNN aboard Air Force One Monday.
After arriving in New York City last week, Tsai said Taiwan’s relationship with the United States “has never been closer.”
“We know that we are stronger when we stand in solidarity with other democracies. Taiwan cannot be isolated and friendship is not a given for us,” Tsai said at a banquet with members of the Taiwanese-American community with Taiwan affiliate SET TV, according to footage obtained by CNN.
Taiwan’s presidential office has so far refused to confirm Tsai’s potential US meetings.
Last week China’s chargé d’affaires Xu Xueyuan told reporters that Tsai’s presence in the US could lead to a “serious” confrontation in US-China relations and have “serious repercussions” on their ties.
McCarthy’s predecessor, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan last year before her tenure as speaker ended, marking the first time a speaker of the US House of Representatives had visited Taiwan in 25 years. During her trip, Pelosi said the visit was intended to “make absolutely clear” that the US would “not leave” the democratically ruled island.
This visit met with strong opposition from China, prompting Beijing to respond with extensive island-wide military exercises.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Melanie Zanona and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.