Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) A United States bipartisan congressional delegation led by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs chair Mark Takano arrived in Taiwan late Thursday aboard a C-40 Clipper military transport plane.
The military aircraft carrying Takano and four other members of the U.S. House of Representatives touched down at Taipei Songshan Airport around 10:10 p.m.
The trip marks the second U.S. congressional delegation visit to the country this month.
In a press release Thursday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said other members of the delegation include representatives Nancy Mace, Colin Allred, Elissa Slotkin, and Sara Jacobs.
Their two-day visit is part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region, the AIT said, adding that the delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders to “discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, and other significant issues of mutual interest.”
During the delegation’s stay in Taipei, its members will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and pay a visit to the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Veterans Affairs Council, a source said on condition of anonymity.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that many of the visiting U.S. lawmakers have offered strong support for Taiwan’s efforts to participate in international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
Their visit demonstrates bipartisan congressional support for Taiwan-U.S. relations, the ministry said, adding that the lawmakers will have in-depth discussions with Taiwanese officials on issues such as bilateral ties and regional security during their stay in Taiwan.
The Taiwan trip is expected to be a previously unannounced leg of the delegation’s ongoing Thanksgiving holiday visit to American service members and veterans in Japan and South Korea beginning Nov. 19.
U.S. Senator and India Caucus Co-Chair John Cornyn headed a delegation that visited Taiwan for three days from Nov. 9-11, during which time they also met with Tsai and visited the MND, as well as the headquarters of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Hsinchu Science Park.
According to a press release issued by Cornyn, that trip was aimed at learning how the U.S. can help support Taiwan’s defense capabilities and to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade ties.
Other members of the delegation were Senators Mike Crapo of Idaho, Mike Lee of Utah and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama as well as Representatives Tony Gonzales and Jake Ellzey of Texas.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel