Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The two leaders discussed the strong bonds between the United States and Taiwan, despite threats of retaliation from China.
Tsai’s visit to the United States comes as tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate. Beijing has repeatedly threatened to use force to reunite Taiwan with the mainland, and has ramped up military activities in the Taiwan Strait in recent months.
During the meeting, Tsai and McCarthy praised the close relationship between Taiwan and the United States, which has grown stronger in recent years. The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, but maintains close unofficial ties with the island and provides it with military support.
Tsai thanked the United States for its support and reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and human rights. She also expressed her hope for closer economic ties between Taiwan and the United States.
McCarthy, for his part, expressed his admiration for Taiwan’s democratic achievements and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. He pledged to work with his colleagues in Congress to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The meeting between Tsai and McCarthy is likely to further anger Beijing, which views any official contact between Taiwan and the United States as a violation of its “One China” policy. China has previously threatened to impose sanctions on U.S. companies that sell weapons to Taiwan or have business dealings with the island.
Despite China’s threats, the United States has continued to deepen its ties with Taiwan in recent years, in a move seen as a show of support for the island and a check against China’s rising influence in the region. The meeting between Tsai and McCarthy is a clear indication that the United States is committed to maintaining a strong relationship with Taiwan, despite Beijing’s objections.
