Six American lawmakers led by senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Taiwan on Thursday evening to meet top-level Taiwanese officials, much to the consternation of China which frowns upon official visits to Taiwan.
The US officials will meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng and are supposed to discuss US-Taiwan cooperation, Chinese threat to Taiwan and regional security.
The delegation arrived in Taipei on a military plane after a visit to Australia. They were received by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu at the airport, says Taiwanese news agency CNA.
A warm welcome to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC, @SenatorMenendez, @SenatorBurr, @SenRobPortman, @SenSasse, Representative @RonnyJacksonTX & your delegation from the #US. You're all true friends to #Taiwan & I look forward to working with you to strengthen our countries’ partnership. pic.twitter.com/0JneLainqi
— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) April 14, 2022
The visit assumes significance and is considered a snub to China after the controversial cancellation of Taiwan visit by US Speaker Nancy Pelosi last Sunday. Pelosi had planned to visit Taiwan after which Beijing had created a ruckus warning the US to abide by the 'one-China principle'. Eventually Pelosi had to cancel the visit citing the Covid-19 infection.
Separately, US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said on Thursday that Taiwan cannot be compared to Ukraine and the US will ensure that China does not invade the island nation, reports Taiwan News.
Sullivan was speaking at a meeting of The Economic Club of Washington, DC. The discussion focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and also discussed China-Taiwan issues.
Sullivan expressed Washington's fears that China may take steps "to unilaterally change the status quo" in the Taiwan Strait.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led many to believe that China is also likely to launch a military attack on Taiwan because it considers Taiwan a part of mainland China. Over the last nearly three years China has been regularly intruding upon Taiwan's airspace to cow down the island nation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that Taiwan will be made part of China even if it has to be annexed by force.
Both China and Taiwan have been observing the outcome of the Ukrainian resistance carefully.
