Beijing may not like that. Days after China’s largest-ever military maneuvers around Taiwan ended, a delegation of US congressmen arrived on the island in response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island. That visit, which the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy of the United States, said was scheduled to last two days, was not planned, according to an American diplomatic source on the island. One senator and four representatives, Democrats and Republicans, make up this delegation.
“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security issues, trade and investment, and climate change,” the American Institute said. The Taiwanese Foreign Minister welcomed the visit.
strengthen business relationships
“As China continues to escalate tensions in the region, the U.S. Congress has once again sent a high-level delegation to Taiwan to demonstrate a friendship unfazed by China’s threats and underscored the United States’ determination to support Taiwan,” U.S. lawmakers said will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in particular, he added.
Washington will strengthen its trade ties with Taiwan and undertake new air and sea crossings in the straits in response to China’s “provocative” actions, Kurt Campbell, White House Asia-Pacific coordinator, announced on Friday. China considers Taiwan, with a population of around 23 million, to be one of its provinces that it has yet to successfully reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War.
Beijing opposes any initiative that gives Taiwanese authorities international legitimacy, while Beijing opposes any official contact between Taiwan and other countries. However, US officials visit the island frequently, but China regards the visit of Nancy Pelosi, one of the US state’s highest figures, as a major provocation.