U.S. lawmakers meet with Taiwan’s president-elect in first visit since island’s election
Taiwan’s president-elect, Lai Ching-te, told visiting U.S. lawmakers Thursday that he hopes Washington will continue to support the Beijing-claimed island.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s president-elect, Lai Ching-te, said Thursday he hopes that the United States can continue to firmly support Taiwan, as he met the first group of U.S. lawmakers to visit Taipei since he won an election earlier this month.
Lai, from Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party and the current vice president, will take office on May 20. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, believes he is a dangerous separatist and has rejected his offers of talks.
Meeting with the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Taiwan Caucus, Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, Lai said democracy and freedom were core shared values with the U.S.
“Taiwan is situated in the first island chain and stands on the frontline of China’s authoritarian expansionism. This makes Taiwan a crucial strategic location. Stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important to regional and global peace and prosperity,” Lai said.
Lai added he would continue to defend the cross-Strait status quo of peace and stability.
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