Two powerful US senators have arrived in Taiwan to show support for the island’s security and strengthen defense ties as China increases military pressure in the region.
Senator Roger Wicker, who heads the US Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Deb Fischer, also a committee member, said the goal of their visit was to “re-emphasize the partnership” between the United States and Taiwan.
“We are here to show our commitment to Taiwan and our long-standing friendship,” Wicker said before meeting Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te and other officials in Taipei.
Taiwan is a self-governed island that China claims as its own territory. Although Taiwan has its own government, military, and elections, Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.
In recent years, China has stepped up military drills around Taiwan, flying fighter jets across the Taiwan Strait and conducting war games. The US, while not having official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, is Taiwan’s most important supporter, especially when it comes to defense and arms sales.
Beijing regularly criticizes any US actions that appear to support Taiwan, including visits by American lawmakers. The Chinese embassy had warned Wicker and others not to travel to Taiwan, but the senators went ahead anyway.
The visit comes just before the US Senate is set to review the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — a major $1 trillion bill that guides US military policy. Senator Wicker hinted that the new version of the NDAA will include more support for Taiwan, although he didn’t share details.
Senator Fischer said in a statement:
“I want to see how we can strengthen our defense position in the region to protect US interests and support our allies.”
Some members of Congress are worried that President Donald Trump may be focusing too much on making a trade deal with China and not enough on defending Taiwan.
This concern grew after the Trump administration reportedly denied permission for Taiwan’s President Lai to pass through New York during a planned trip to Latin America, following Chinese objections. Lai later canceled the trip altogether.
Still, Trump’s officials insist that the US remains committed to regional security, even while trying to improve relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
As part of its wider defense strategy in the Pacific, the US is also:
Building a new dock in Palau, a small island nation and close ally of Taiwan.
Looking for new military storage sites in Palau and Australia to improve supply chains and readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
These actions show that Washington is preparing for long-term competition with China, especially around Taiwan.
The visit by Senators Wicker and Fischer is part of a larger effort by the US to reassure Taiwan and its allies that it stands with them, even as tensions with China grow. It also sends a message to Beijing that American lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, are watching closely and willing to act.
