US Lawmakers Make Unannounced Trip to Taiwan Weeks After Pelosi Visit

(L–R) U.S. Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry Department of North American Affairs Director-General Douglas Hsu, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Republican Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a delegate from American Samoa, pose for a photo at Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 14, 2022. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters

A group of five U.S. lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Aug. 14, about two weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited the self-governing island, according to Taiwanese officials.

A Twitter post issued by the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released photos of Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and other lawmakers meeting with top Taiwanese officials.

The delegation also included Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Vice Minister Yui extended the warmest of welcomes to #Taiwan’s longstanding friend @SenMarkey & his cross-party delegation comprising @RepGaramendi, @RepLowenthal, @RepDonBeyer & @RepAmata. We thank the like-minded #US?? lawmakers for the timely visit & unwavering support,” the Twitter post said.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry Department of North American Affairs Director-General Douglas Hsu (R) welcomes U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) at Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 14, 2022. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters

Taiwan's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yui (R) welcomes U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan on Aug. 14, 2022. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuter

Markey in a statement confirmed that an unannounced delegation led by him had arrived and would meet with Taiwanese officials on Aug. 14.

“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other significant issues of mutual interest,” his statement reads.

Taiwan’s presidential office told Reuters that the group would meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on Aug. 15. Taiwan’s foreign ministry published pictures of four of the group being met at Taipei’s downtown Songshan Airport after arriving on a U.S. Air Force transport jet, while Markey arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has previously issued threats about such visits in the past but it hasn’t said anything yet about Markey’s group. Since 1949, the CCP has claimed Taiwan as its territory despite Taiwan never having been under CCP rule.

After Pelosi’s visit on Aug. 2, the CCP carried out a series of live-fire drills in the South China Sea. Pelosi was the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan since former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich’s trip to the island in 1997.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Aug. 14 it detected 22 Chinese aircraft and six naval ships in and around the Taiwan Strait.

A mostly Republican delegation that included Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and also Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) visited Taiwan in April.

That visit drew threats and warnings from top CCP officials.

Reuters contributed to this report.