US Congress delegation reaches Taiwan after China’s two-day military exercise

A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers is expected to meet with newly-sworn-in President Lai Ching-te administration to negotiate US-Taiwan relations, following China’s two-day massive military exercise to corner Taiwan, Taiwan News reports. Reached taipei for.

The delegation, including Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, arrived in Taipei on Sunday for a week of talks and will conclude their visit on May 30.

According to a press release from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), during their visit the delegation is expected to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment as well as other issues of mutual interest.

McCaul said the bipartisan group’s visit to Taiwan this week “sends a signal to the Chinese Communist Party that the United States stands with the Taiwanese people and will work to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.”

The American Institute in Taiwan said the trip, announced last week by Congressman Michael McCaul, is also part of a larger trip that will also include other stops in the Indo-Pacific region.

McCaul from Texas is accompanied by a congressional delegation, including Representatives Young Kim and Jimmy Panetta of California, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Andy Barr of Kentucky and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Taiwan News reported.

The delegation is expected to meet Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, with his/her visit coming a week after his/her inauguration.

The Congress visit also comes after China ended two-day military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday.

US Representative Jimmy Panetta said the visit demonstrated the “essential partnership” between Taiwan and the US.

Panetta said, “I look forward to congratulating President Lai Ching-te on his/her inauguration and to strengthening the ties between our two countries.”