U.S. lawmakers travel to Taiwan in wake of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit

A group of American lawmakers headed to Taiwan on Sunday, less than two weeks after a controversial visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prompted China to launch military exercises in a show of power around the western Pacific island.

Led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, the delegation planned to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other officials to talk about shared U.S.-Taiwanese interests such as easing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and investments in semiconductors.

After Pelosi’s Aug. 2 visit to Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing wants under its control, China sent missiles, warships and warplanes to the region around Taiwan for several days.

A senior White House official said last week that China was using Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to intensify pressure around Taiwan and endanger stability in the region.

Chinese warplanes were still crossing the midpoint of the Taiwan Strait on a daily basis, including at least 10 on Sunday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

China opposes Taiwan having official contact with high-ranking members of foreign governments.

Markey chairs the Senate foreign relations East Asia, Pacific and international cybersecurity subcommittee. Joining him were Republican Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen from Samoa and Democrats Rep. John Garamendi and Rep. Alan Lowenthal from California, and Rep. Don Beyer from Virginia.

China claims the U.S. supports Taiwanese independence with sales of military equipment and engagement with Taiwanese officials. The U.S. has said that Taiwan and China need to settle their differences peacefully.

China and Taiwan broke apart in a civil war in 1949, when the Communists took over China and the losing Nationalists took control of the Taiwanese island.

The White House has said the U.S. would be sending warships and planes through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks and also is planning to hold trade talks with Taiwan.

With News Wire Services