A delegation made up of US lawmakers landed in Taiwan on Thursday, their sixth political visit in a month, illustrating the growing exchange between Washington and the island, which Beijing claims as its own province.
The group is led by Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy. The delegation that landed in Taipei on Thursday is bipartisan and is made up of eight members of the United States Congress. They must meet with the leader of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.
Stephanie Murphy is among US lawmakers who have introduced a bill that would allow the US to lend arms to Taiwan. This is a similar proposal to the previously approved one to lend weapons to Ukraine. Last week, the Joe Biden administration approved the sale of $1 billion worth of military equipment to Taiwan.
The delegation also includes Democrat Kaiali’i Kahele and Republicans Scott Franklin, Joe Wilson, Andy Barr, Darrell Issa, Claudia Tenney and Kat Cammack.
Beijing sees the high-profile visits to the island as interference in the country’s internal affairs and de facto recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty, and is reacting aggressively.
In early August, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan, the highest-profile US visit to the island in 25 years, Beijing launched military exercises on an unprecedented scale, which included the launch of missiles and the use of live fire. For almost a week, the People’s Liberation Army maintained a de facto sea and air blockade of the territory.
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Since then, China has maintained its military siege, sending warships and fighter jets near Taiwan every day.
China’s recent military exercises were seen by analysts as a rehearsal for future military action against the island.. US military leaders say a Chinese invasion could take place in the next few years.
After Pelosi’s trip, a US senator and another congressional delegation visited Taiwan. The governors of the states of Arizona and Indiana also made visits focused on the potato chips semiconductors Taiwan is the world’s largest producer of these components, which are essential in high-tech manufacturing.
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China and Taiwan have lived as two autonomous territories since 1949, when the former Chinese nationalist government took refuge on the island after defeat in the civil war against the communists. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and threatens unification by force if the island formally declares its independence.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, going so far as to recognize Beijing as the sole legitimate government in all of China. Washington remains, however, the island’s main arms supplier and ally.
Source: Observadora
