Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey arrived in Taiwan on Sunday to “encourage stability and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” less than two weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit angered China and sparked “provocative” military drills.
Markey led a congressional delegation to the self-governing island as part of a larger trip to Asia. The Bay State senator is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia, Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Subcommittee.
“I’m traveling to Taiwan with a bipartisan congressional delegation to reaffirm US support for Taiwan and encourage stability and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” Markey tweeted on Sunday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Taiwan tweeted out a photo of Markey shaking hands with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yui.
“Vice Minister Yui extended the warmest of welcomes to #Taiwan’s longstanding friend @SenMarkey & his cross-party delegation comprising @RepGaramendi, @RepLowenthal, @RepDonBeyer & @RepAmata,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted. “We thank the like-minded #US lawmakers for the timely visit & unwavering support.”
Following Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this month, China sent missiles, warships and warplanes into the seas and skies around Taiwan for several days. The Chinese government objects to Taiwan having any official contact with foreign governments, particularly with a high-ranking congressional leader like Pelosi.
Markey on Sunday was joined by House colleagues, including co-leaders of the congressional Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group Congressmen John Garamendi and Don Beyer, as well as Congressman Alan Lowenthal and Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.
“On their visit, the delegation will reaffirm the United States’ support for Taiwan as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and Six Assurances, and will encourage stability and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” a spokesperson for Markey said in a statement.
“The group will meet with elected leaders and members of the private sector to discuss shared interests including reducing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and expanding economic cooperation, including investments in semiconductors,” the spokesperson added.
Chinese warplanes have continued crossing the midpoint of the Taiwan Strait on a daily basis even after the conclusion of the military exercises last Wednesday, with at least 10 doing so on Sunday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.
A senior White House official on Asia policy said late last week that China had used Pelosi’s visit as a pretext to launch an intensified pressure campaign against Taiwan, jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region.
“China has overreacted, and its actions continue to be provocative, destabilizing and unprecedented,” Kurt Campbell, a deputy assistant to President Joe Biden, said on a call with reporters.
Herald wire services were used in this report.
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