There is strong support for Taiwan in the US Congress. That was the word from Taiwan’s representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) who has returned to Taiwan on a visit. She was speaking to the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign and National Defense Committee on Monday.
Lawmakers asked about reports that the US Congress’s Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and China was planning to send a delegation to Taiwan and hold a public hearing. They also asked if she was concerned about provoking China with such a visit. Hsiao said that plans have not yet begun for such a trip.
Hsiao said there is much interest among US Congresspersons to visit Taiwan. Last year, 30 US congresspeople visited Taiwan. Hsiao said “I believe there will be more [visits] to come in the future. People are very concerned about the issue and there is strong support for Taiwan in the US Congress." She said her office would make suitable plans for those wanting to visit Taiwan.
When asked if President Tsai Ing-wen would visit the US, she said that overseas visits by the president were common before the pandemic and they would be planned at a suitable time.
Lawmakers also asked Hsiao if she was planning to run on a presidential ticket with Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Hsiao did not directly answer the question and said that her visit to Taiwan is a short one and is solely focused on issues relevant to US-Taiwan ties.