President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation from the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Sunday afternoon in Taipei. At the head of the delegation is the committee’s chairman, Senator John McCain.
During the meeting, Tsai called on the United States to continue selling defensive weapons to Taiwan and for a strengthening of military exchanges. The president also urged the United States to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and a US-led regional trade agreement -- the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Tsai said the trip to Taiwan is significant because it’s McCain’s first visit as the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She said it’s also the first time the committee’s chairman has led a delegation to Taiwan in 24 years, and the largest delegation of US Senators to visit in the last decade.
Tsai thanked McCain for his continued support for Taiwan during his 30 years as a congressman, supporting both arms sales to Taiwan and the strengthening of security ties. The president also thanked the visiting delegation for their concern for security in the Taiwan Strait.