A bipartite group of American legislators is in Taiwan aimed at reassuring Taipei that American support for the island remains firm despite recent strong criticism from President Donald Trump and steep commercial rates.
The delegation, including the Republican senators Pete Ricketts and Ted Budd and the Democratic Senator Chris Coons, marks the first official visit to Taiwan under the Trump administration.
Trump slapped a 32% surprise rate on Taiwanese imports earlier this month, part of a radical commercial campaign affecting several American allies.
“Look beyond rhetoric and look at the action,” Ricketts told journalists, echoing a common republican refrain by responding to the concerns concerning the tone of the president towards Taiwan.
Despite Trump's prices and past accusations that Taiwan had “stolen” the American semiconductor industry, Taiwanese leaders took an optimistic tone during the meetings, saying that they were actively working to strengthen trade and security links with Washington.
Senator Coons described discussions as “prospective” and said he was confident in a “next chapter in American-taiwan relations”.
He added that Taiwan moved urgently to respond to the concerns raised by the Trump administration, including efforts to finalize commercial and investment transactions.
This is added to the investment of $ 100 billion (88 billion euros) of the semiconductor giant this year only in the manufacture of fleas in the United States.
Taiwan has undertaken to increase defense expenses to 3% of GDP – compared to 2.5% current – and invests in a more mobile and autonomous military strategy.
Drawing on lessons from Ukraine resistance to Russia, Taipei focuses on improving its domestic weapon production, including submarines, light weapons and air defense systems, while expanding cooperation with the United States on emerging technologies like Drone Warfare.
President Lai Ching-Te, Defense Minister Wellington Koo and national security advisor Joseph Wu should meet the American delegation on Friday.
Officials have already contacted US Secretary to Trade Howard Lutnick for accelerated negotiations before closing the 90 -day suspension window before Trump prices take full effect.
The visit comes as China maintains its complaint on Taiwan, an autonomous democracy that Beijing sees a province of breakaway. The increase in trade tensions and the military posture have renewed fears in the region of a potential Chinese escalation.
“Of course, it is possible that Xi Jinping decides that this is the right time for the Chinese Communist Party to take aggressive measures,” said Senator Coons.
“I think it's exactly the bad thing for them. I think they would find an energetic and united response.”
