US Republican lawmaker to attend Taiwan presidential inauguration

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Mar 2024 05:12

Representative Mike McCaul says he will be leading a delegation to Taiwan for President-elect Lai Ching-te's inauguration.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, R-Texas, speaks with reporters as he leaves a closed- door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A top US lawmaker said Wednesday he would visit Taiwan for the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te on May 20, a year after his last trip to the island provoked anger from China.

Representative Mike McCaul, who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke alongside Taiwan's representative in Washington and lawmakers from both parties at an event in the US Capitol marking 45 years since a landmark law to support Taiwan.

"I'll be leading a delegation to Taiwan to celebrate the president's inauguration," McCaul announced.

McCaul last visited Taiwan in April 2023 to meet President Tsai Ing-wen. Back then, China responded with a show of military force and later imposed sanctions on McCaul, a Republican from Texas.

"The last time I visited Taiwan, I was greeted very warmly by President Tsai but not so warmly by the CCP," McCaul said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

China claims Taiwan as its own and says it will not rule out using force to bring about "unification". It opposes any form of official exchange between other countries and Taiwan authorities and resolutely rejects interference in Taiwan affairs in any way.

US President Joe Biden sent an "unofficial" delegation of two former senior officials to Taiwan to meet Lai after his election.