00:00U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker and Senator Deb Fischer conclude a whirlwind trip to Taiwan.
00:07Over the two-day visit, the pair of Taiwan advocates talked about Taiwan's security and deterrence with Taiwan's president and other top policymakers.
00:15One of the reasons that Senator Fischer and I came is not only to learn and listen and find out where our friends in Taiwan stand on so many, many issues,
00:30but also to send a firm and strong message of friendship and determination that this country is separate and free and entitled to make its own decision.
00:48We're separated by a great distance, but we are united by the principles that have kept the Taiwanese people and the American people free and independent for years and years and years.
01:05The meeting comes ahead of Senate debates on the National Defense Authorization Act, which Wicker says will include provisions on Taiwan.
01:12Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister also thanked Wicker and Fischer, who also serves on the Armed Services Committee, for their dedication to Taiwan.
01:21Their leadership has been indispensable in advancing numerous bills and statements in support of Taiwan and our bilateral relations.
01:31Their presence needs to send a strong and clear message that the U.S. Congress will continue to support a free, secure and prosperous Taiwan.
01:40On Friday, President Lai Qingze praised the visit as a display of the U.S. and Taiwan's deep democratic partnership.
01:47But their visit hasn't gone unnoticed by China, which views foreign delegations to Taiwan as an insult to the one-China principle.
01:54The senator's visit came as part of a wider Indo-Pacific tour, underscoring Taiwan's place at the heart of regional security.
02:24and Washington's stake in it.
02:26Joseph Wu and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.
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