A group of five US representatives arrived in Taiwan today for a three-day visit as part of a larger Indo-Pacific trip, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said today.
US Representative Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas, is leading the delegation in Taiwan until Thursday, the AIT said in a statement.
Joining Westerman are fellow US representatives Sarah Elfreth, Harriet Hageman, Celeste Maloy and Nick Begich, it said.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, Bloomberg
While in Taiwan, they are to hold high-level meetings with senior Taiwanese leaders to discuss “significant issues of mutual interest,” including Taiwan-US relations, security, trade and investment, it added.
“Their visit underscores the United States’ commitment to its partnership with Taiwan and reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the visit, reiterating that the two sides are to exchange views on energy, economic cooperation and security.
The group is to meet with President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), as well as attend a reception hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), it said.
Westerman, a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, last visited Taiwan in February 2016, the ministry said.
He has cosigned many pro-Taiwan resolutions, including pushing for a Compacts of Free Association agreement to consolidate Taiwan’s diplomatic relations, it said.
The visit by this bipartisan group of newly elected lawmakers “once again demonstrates through practical actions the US' unanimous nonpartisan support for Taiwan,” it added.
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