Taipei: A US Congress delegation will be visiting Taiwan from April 16-19 to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, trade, and investment, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced on Wednesday. The visit aims to strengthen ties between the United States and Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic representation.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Senator Pete Ricketts, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, will lead the delegation. The group will engage in high-level meetings with senior leaders in Taiwan to address issues of mutual interest, including U.S.-Taiwan relations and regional security.
The delegation’s visit highlights Washington’s commitment to its partnership with Taipei. Meanwhile, Taiwanese media reported that a delegation of 17 Taiwanese lawmakers is set to visit the United States from April 28 to May 2, further aiming to deepen bilateral relations.
Taiwan has operated independently from mainland China since 1949. While Beijing views Taiwan as a province, Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country with its own elected government, though it has not declared independence. Beijing opposes any official diplomatic contacts between foreign states and Taipei, asserting its sovereignty over the island.