French, US lawmakers visit Taiwan amidst tensions with China

Delegations of lawmakers from both the United States and France are the latest officials from foreign governments to visit Taiwan. The latest visit indicates further defiance of China’s threats and warnings against officials visiting the island nation.

The Taiwanese government welcomed the visits by French and US lawmakers this week. Eight US lawmakers, led by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy of the House Armed Services Committee arrived Wednesday, while five French senators arrived the day before for a six-day visit.

This would mark the sixth visit by US officials and the fourth of French officials.

The visits by French and US lawmakers are set to anger Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own and has criticized foreign officials who visit the island to meet with its democratic government. Beijing ramped up its military drills near Taiwan after being angered by the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last month.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a statement Thursday that the visit by the US delegation highlights the strong support for Taiwan from the US Congress.

The island nation’s top representative in Washington, Hsiao Bi-Khim said China’s aggression following Pelosi’s visit has interested other foreign parliaments in visiting Taiwan.

China’s aggression in response to the top House Democrat’s visit to Taiwan last month also led to strong support for the island nation in a very divided US Congress.

28 members of the US Congress have already visited Taiwan so far, the highest since 2013. Both the United States and France recognize Beijing but maintain informal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Washington is also legally bound to provide Taiwan with arms.

Prior to the visit by the US and French lawmakers, Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano made his first visit to Taiwan this week since getting elected in 2019. During a welcome reception in Taipei, Natano reaffirmed the Pacific Island nation’s support for Taiwan. Tuvalu is one of the 14 countries which have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

“Through tumultuous times of geostrategic agendas, we continue to stand firm in our commitment to remain a lasting and loyal ally of the Republic of China,” said Natano, referring to Taiwan by its official name.