TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Tsai Ing-wen greeted an 8-member delegation of the U.S. Congress at the Office of the President on the morning of Sept. 8. This is the largest U.S. delegation yet to visit Taiwan compared to the several delegations that arrived in August.
"I want to thank the members of Congress. After China's continued military exercises, this delegation came and showed the rock-solid support of the U.S. Congress for Taiwan," said President Tsai Ing-wen. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seven Congressional delegations from the U.S. have visited Taiwan this year.
This delegation, which arrived in Taiwan late on Sept.7, is led by Stephanie Murphy, a U.S. Democratic Representative from Florida. Murphy is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
Asked about her visit, Stephanie Murphy said: "This (visit to Taiwan) symbolizes Congress's rock-solid commitment to Taiwan. This message is a powerful message coming from Congress, which oversees the other branches of American government and has the power to craft legislation and policy that often remains in place across multiple Presidential administrations."
The U.S. lawmakers will be staying in Taiwan until Friday as part of their visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, the U.S. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the American position has remained steadfast and consistent, the One-China policy, Taiwan Relations Act, and the 3 Joint Communiques. Sullivan added they will continue to push back any effort to change the status quo by force.
