Rep. Young Kim of Anaheim Hills met with Taiwanese Vice President William Lai Thursday morning local time, just hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had a historic meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Kim, part of a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, traveled to Taipei to meet with Lai, business leaders and other senior officials “to discuss ways the U.S. can strengthen our economic and defense relationship with Taiwan in the face of growing threats to the region.”
The next morning, the bipartisan delegation made a historic visit to Taiwan, where they met with Vice President Lai and other senior officials. pic.twitter.com/c7IKIeZzcx
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) April 6, 2023
Tsai, during her stop at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, said peace and democracy in Taiwan are “facing unprecedented challenges.”
The meeting was condemned by China, which views interactions between the U.S. and Taiwanese officials as a challenge to its claim of the island territory.
In Simi Valley, McCarthy stressed it was not “our intention to escalate” tensions with China and did not rule out a future trip to Taiwan when asked by reporters. He said he would take a bipartisan delegation if he does visit.
McCaul’s group is abroad in East Asia “to discuss strengthening relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.” They already visited Japan and South Korea on the trip.
Aside from Kim and McCaul, the delegation includes Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat who represents a Sacramento district, as well as Reps. French Hill, R-Arkansas; Madeleine Dean, D-Pennsylvania; Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pennsyvlania; Mike Waltz, R-Florida; Michael Lawler, R-New York; and Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas.
Kim, the only Southern California member on the trip, serves as chair of the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.
The Republican lawmaker, who has repeatedly voiced support for…
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