U.S. congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan, draws China rebuke

A delegation of six senior members of the U.S. Congress arrived in Taiwan Thursday, drawing a rebuke from China.

The delegation is being led by Sen. Lindsey Graham and includes Bob Menendez, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They plan to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said, adding the visit by the delegation amid the Ukraine crisis demonstrates the United States’ “rock solid” support and commitment to Taiwan.

Ahead of the delegation’s arrival, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said earlier Thursday that Beijing firmly opposed all forms of official interactions between the United States and Taiwan.

In addition to calling for the United States to honor the “one China” policy, Zhao urged Washington to “refrain from heading further down a dangerous road.”

The American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy, said the delegation will hold talks with officials of the self-ruled island to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security and other issues during the visit through Friday.

The visit comes amid growing concern that the crisis in Ukraine could encourage China to pursue a similar course regarding Taiwan.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has been enhancing ties with Taipei as China increases its pressure on the democratic island, which it views as a renegade province awaiting reunification by force if necessary.

Taiwan and China have been governed separately since 1949, when the Nationalist Party lost the Chinese civil war and fled to Taiwan.