US lawmakers arrive in Taiwan amid tensions with Beijing

A US congressional delegation led by Senator Ed Markey landed in Taiwan yesterday for a two-day visit, a trip that risks keeping tensions with China high after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island earlier this month.

TAIPEI

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified, by force if necessary.

Beijing has conducted military drills around the island to express its anger at Mrs Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.

The de facto US embassy in Taipei said that Mr Markey is being accompanied by four other lawmakers on a trip that it described as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan’s presidential office said the group will meet Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen this morning.

The delegation will also meet Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu and local lawmakers, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.

“Especially at a time when China is raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the region with military exercises, Markey leading a delegation to visit Taiwan once again demonstrates the United States Congress’ firm support for Taiwan,” the presidential office said.