US Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and one of the strongest advocates for Taiwan in the US Congress, arrived in Taiwan today for a visit that includes a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) later today.
“We are delighted to be here as part of an American delegation to reinforce and emphasize the great partnership that the United States and Taiwan have,” Wicker told reporters shortly after landing at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport).
“We stand here to re-emphasize the partnership and the security friendship agreement that the United States has had with Taiwan for some decades,” he said.
Photo: CNA
Wicker was accompanied by US Senator Deb Fischer, who also serves on the committee.
The US Senate next week is due to consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a nearly US$1 trillion bill that sets policy for the Pentagon.
Wicker said that this year’s NDAA would “add to the provisions again” when it came to Taiwan, though he gave no details.
The visit comes shortly after Taiwan’s Cabinet proposed a defense budget for next year that would exceed 3 percent of GDP, pending legislative approval.
Lai has also pledged to raise the figure to 5 percent by 2030.
Fischer said the delegation would discuss “security, opportunities and progress” in the Indo-Pacific region with Taiwanese authorities.
“At a time of global unrest, it is extremely significant for us to be here and to continue to meet with Taiwan government officials,” she said.
According to Fischer, she and Wicker are in Taiwan as part of a broader trip that also included stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and the Philippines.
The Chinese embassy last month urged Wicker and other lawmakers to cancel plans to go to Taiwan.
Some members of Congress have recently expressed concern that US President Donald Trump is de-emphasizing security issues as he works on negotiating a trade deal with China.
Administration officials have said that Trump remains fully committed to Asia-Pacific security matters as he pursues his trade agenda and a good personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
It remains unclear how long the delegation would stay in Taiwan.
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