Bipartisan Support for Taiwan: A Significant Moment Amidst China Tensions

The recent election in Taiwan, held on January 13, 2024, marked a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China. The election of a new president, Lai Ching-te, was met with bipartisan support from the United States Congress, as a delegation led by U.S. Representatives Mario Díaz Balart and Ami Bera visited the island following the election.

The United States maintains informal relations with Taiwan, but President Biden has insisted that the ‘one-China’ policy has not changed. China, on the other hand, claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to use force to bring the self-governed island under its control. Beijing strongly condemned Lai’s election and appears set to continue its policy of refusing to engage with the island’s government.

The visit by the U.S. lawmakers was the first by American legislators since the Democratic Progressive Party won a third-straight term in the election. The delegation’s visit reaffirmed the United States’ support for Taiwan, which is real and bipartisan, according to Representative Díaz Balart. He was joined by California Democrat Ami Bera, who echoed his sentiments, stating that the relationship between the United States and Taiwan is strong and will even be stronger.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed the visiting congressmen, expressing her gratitude for their support. During the visit, Lai discussed continued military assistance from the United States and a proposed agreement to avoid mutual taxation of companies. Beijing objects to any form of official contact between the United States and Taiwan, and in 2022, it responded to a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with some of its largest military maneuvers in years.

President Joe Biden, seeking to calm China’s complaint, insists there is no change in America’s longstanding ‘one-China’ policy. However, the United States is required by law to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself, which has translated into a heavy reliance on U.S. military hardware and a law stating that Washington must treat threats against the island as a matter of ‘grave concern.’

China regularly sends warplanes and navy ships to intimidate and harass Taiwan, with 18 planes and six ships operating near the island in the 24 hours before 6 a.m. on the day of the visit. Three Chinese balloons were recorded as crossing the island, although it remains unclear whether they had a military or intelligence gathering purpose.

The United States does not want to change the status quo between China and Taiwan, but it has to respond to external pressures and others that potentially are changing that status quo. It’s about seeking peace, prosperity, and the right to your own future. The Taiwanese people spoke loud and clear in the election, and Taiwan is a beacon of hope and of life and of freedom and of democracy and it is such a direct contrast to what we’re seeing coming from the Communist Party of China.

The future of Taiwan should not be dictated by any external power. But the future of Taiwan is up to the people of Taiwan. The United States does not want to change the status quo, but it has to respond to external pressures and others that potentially are changing that status quo. It’s about seeking peace, prosperity, and the right to your own future.

The United States’ support for Taiwan is firm and real, and it is 100% bipartisan. The relationship between the United States and Taiwan is strong, and it will even be stronger. The United States looks forward to working together to continue to protect the peace, prosperity, and future of Taiwan. It’s up to the people of Taiwan.

In conclusion, the bipartisan delegation’s visit to Taiwan following the election of a new president was a significant moment amidst the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China. The United States’ support for Taiwan is firm and real, and it is 100% bipartisan. The relationship between the United States and Taiwan is strong, and it will even be stronger. The future of Taiwan is up to the people of Taiwan, and the United States will continue to work towards seeking peace, prosperity, and the right to your own future.