A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers visited Taiwan on May 27, 2024, to show support for the newly elected president, Lai Ching-te. The visit came after China performed military drills in the Taiwan Strait as a response to Lai's inauguration and US lawmakers' visit. The United States must maintain its capacity to resist any attempt by China to use force or coercion against Taiwan. In his inaugural address, Lai vowed to defend Taiwan's sovereignty. China warned US lawmakers not to visit Taiwan and conducted military drills as a display of displeasure towards Lai's presidency.
The US has maintained its support for Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province that must come under its control. The U.S., like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
Representative Michael McCaul of Texas led the delegation and met Lai in Taipei on Monday. McCaul, who is also the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reaffirmed US commitment to Taiwan's security and sovereignty. The visit was a powerful display of bipartisan support for Taiwan at a critical time.
The Chinese government expressed strong opposition to the congressional visit and warned that it undermines China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. However, Lai called the American delegation's visit an important gesture of solidarity.
In April, the House approved $8 billion for Taiwan in a lopsided vote as part of a military aid bill. The U.S. has provided military aid to Taiwan since 1954 under the Taiwan Relations Act.
The tensions between China and Taiwan have been escalating in recent months, with China increasing its military presence around the self-governing island and making threats against US involvement in the region.
