A bipartisan group of five US congressional lawmakers is in Taiwan. The trip comes less than two weeks after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan prompted China to react sharply.
The delegation, led by Senator Ed Markey, arrived in Taiwan by plane on Sunday.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry says the legislators will meet President Tsai Ing-wen and other figures to discuss security, the economy and trade during their two-day stay.
The ministry said in a statement that the visit highlights Washington’s strong support for Taiwan and demonstrates a friendship that is not afraid of China’s threats.
Pelosi visited Taiwan on August 2 and 3, becoming the first incumbent US House speaker to travel there in 25 years.
China responded to her visit by staging days of large-scale military drills around Taiwan, including ballistic missile launches.
China has also continued to fly military aircraft over the median line in the Taiwan Strait every day even after the end of the exercises. The line is designed to prevent unintended military clashes between Taiwan and China.
Analysts say China may sharply react again to the US lawmakers’ visit.
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