US Senate Delegation in Taiwan for Security Talks

TaiwanPlus News

The issue of Taiwan’s security is front and center for two US senators visiting the country as their final stop on a tour of partners and territories in the Pacific region.

Transcript

00:00Here at Taipei Songshan Airport, a highly anticipated delegation led by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker has just arrived.

00:07The head of the Senate's Armed Services Committee, Wicker is one of the fiercest advocates for Taiwan in Congress.

00:13He leads the delegation along with fellow Senator Deb Fischer.

00:17They're on a tour of partners in U.S. territories in the Indo-Pacific that included Hawaii, Guam, Palau, and the Philippines.

00:25Taiwan is their last stop.

00:26After touching down in Taipei, Wicker told local media that democracy is never fully assured without sufficient efforts to bolster defense.

00:35We're here to talk to our friends and allies in Taiwan about what we're doing to enhance worldwide peace,

00:44the kind of peace through strength that Ronald Reagan talked about.

00:49The senator's visit is not without its risks and challenges.

00:52It comes as the U.S. Trump administration is now focusing on reaching a trade deal with China.

00:59This reportedly led it to cancel a planned stopover in New York by Taiwan President Lai Qingde in late July.

01:05Both the U.S. and Lai refuted those reports.

01:08China has also repeatedly made clear it opposes any form of official U.S.-Taiwan interaction,

01:14warning that its military remains on high alert.

01:17This delegation highlights that Taiwan still has the backing from some powerful corners of the Congress.

01:23A welcome reminder as China steps up pressure on the country.

01:26And amid concerns that U.S. support for Taiwan may be waning under President Donald Trump.

01:31Ryan Wu, Fu Hua Hong, David Santos, and Ellen Lu for Taiwan Plus.

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