The second US congressional delegation to visit Taiwan this month arrived at Songshan Airport in Taipei on Thursday evening. Local press are curious about what matters the visitors will discuss with Taiwanese officials. China, meanwhile, is predictably displeased.
Reporters shout greetings at California Representative Mark Takano, who is at the head of a delegation of US lawmakers visiting Taiwan.
US Air Force C-40 aircraft carrying Takano and his colleagues touched down at Songshan airport after 10PM on Thursday. This is the second congressional US delegation to visit Taiwan this month.
Other members of the bipartisan group include Democrats Colin Allred, Elissa Slotkin, and Sara Jacobs, as well as Republican Nancy Mace. The 17-strong delegation will stay in Taiwan until Friday.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Joanne Ou extended a cordial welcome to the visiting group.
A statement from the Presidential Office also welcomed the delegation, and added that its visit signifies not only steadfast friendship between the US and Taiwan, but also the US Congress’ strong, bipartisan support for deepening relations with Taiwan.
The American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in Taiwan, says that the delegation is visiting several countries in the Indo-Pacific region. In Taiwan, they will meet with senior officials to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and other important topics of mutual concern.
Representative Mace tweeted on Wednesday that she had just landed in the “Republic of Taiwan”. That choice of words is sure to further anger Beijing, which is already seething about the fact that the delegation is in Taiwan in the first place. Representative Slotkin said that earlier, she received a blunt message from the Chinese embassy in Washington telling her to call off the trip.
Beijing is also angry at US President Joe Biden for inviting Taiwan to a Democracy Summit. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that it was instigating splittism and inciting factionalism. Beijing is also upset at other sovereign states which are starting to follow the American lead in their approach to Taiwan.