US lawmakers pledge support for Taiwan and its 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 Monday in the capital, Taipei, the United States is fully committed to supporting Taiwan militarily, diplomatically and economically. Taiwan’s new foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, noted 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 for visiting Taiwan.