Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met Wednesday with a U.S. congressional delegation in Taipei, where she pledged the island's dedication to working closely with the United States in safeguarding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
"Taiwan is on the frontline of defense of democratic values. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the United States in such areas as economics and national defense," Tsai told the nine-member bipartisan delegation led by Mike Rogers, chair of the House Armed Services Committee.
The group, focusing on security affairs, is one of the largest delegations of U.S. lawmakers to visit Taiwan in recent years, according to the island's Foreign Ministry. The visit, made amid efforts by Beijing and Washington to stabilize their relations, is likely to anger China, which regards the territory as its own.
Tsai commended members of the delegation for continuing to protect the national security of democratic allies of the United States and thanked Congress for enacting legislation aimed at helping the island bolster its self-defense capabilities and deepen security cooperation between Taipei and Washington.
In response, Rogers vowed "unwavering" support for the island, noting a shared commitment by the United States and Taiwan to the rule of law, democracy and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The United States changed its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but has kept up unofficial relations with Taiwan and supplies the island with arms to help it maintain its self-defense capabilities.
Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, even if it requires the use of force.
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