Just a week after Taiwan welcomed its first delegation from the European Union, authorities are playing host to another party of visitors, this time from the United States.
A visiting group of US Congress members alights in Hsinchu City on Thursday morning. They’re here to visit TSMC, the crown jewel of Taiwan’s tech industry.
The US lawmakers’ itinerary also included a trip to Taiwan’s defense ministry on Wednesday. Reports suggest they received a briefing on security concerns in the South China Sea, and an assessment of the Biden administration’s response.
Defence expert Chen Kuo-ming says this kind of face-to-face report usually involves a higher degree of confidentiality. He says Taiwan is using the report to try to influence US policy.
Senator John Cornyn is among the group of 13 visiting Taiwan, which includes six sitting US lawmakers. Joining Cornyn are Senators Mike Lee, Tommy Tuberville, and Mike Crapo, and Representatives Jake Ellzey and Brian Fitzpatrick. All of the visiting lawmakers are members of the Republican Party.
Before landing in Taiwan, Senator Mike Crapo took to Twitter to say that he was introducing a Taiwan Deterrence Act. The bill authorizes US$2 billion a year for strengthening Taiwan’s defenses if Taiwan matches that spending. Crapo says the bill would bolster deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and strengthen Taiwan’s ability to defend against Chinese aggression.
It’s the first time members of US Congress have been filmed entering the defense ministry in over ten years. Chen says it shows that the United States and Taiwan are gradually becoming more open about military cooperation, and that they aren’t afraid of a response by China.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the visit at the request of the visiting lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Japanese media are reporting that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to visit Taiwan next year. Taiwan’s foreign ministry has welcomed news of the visit. The ministry has thanked Abe for his long-standing support of Taiwan, as well as his work behind the scenes securing vaccine donations for Taiwan from Japan.