US lawmakers visit Taiwan in show of support for new president after China’s military drills

By JOHNSON LAI and KEN MORITSUGU
Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A U.S. congressional delegation has met Taiwan’s new leader in a show of support shortly after China held drills around the self-governing island in response to his inauguration speech. Rep. Andy Barr, the co-chair of the Taiwan caucus in Congress, said the United States is fully committed to supporting Taiwan militarily, diplomatically and economically. Taiwan’s new foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, noted the the recent Chinese drills and called the American delegation’s visit “an important gesture of solidarity” at a critical time. The delegation was led by Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. who was sanctioned by China last year.