US Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker concludes his visit with Senator Deb Fischer to Taiwan. Over the two-day trip, they discussed security and deterrence with Taiwan's president and other top policymakers. The visit came ahead of Senate talks on the National Defense Authorization Act, which Wicker says will account for Taiwan.
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.
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