Sen. Marsha Blackburn became the fourth American politician to visit the island democracy in recent weeks when she touched down in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on board a U.S. military plane on Thursday evening.
The action is certain to spark fresh criticism from Beijing, which sees official U.S. visits as acknowledging Taiwan’s autonomy.
One of the Republican senators who backed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious trip to Taiwan last month was Blackburn of Tennessee, a member of the Senate’s Commerce and Armed Services Committees.
Blackburn tweeted as soon as she arrived, “I just landed in Taiwan to send a message to Beijing – we will not be bullied.” “The United States stands strong in upholding freedom across the world, and will not accept attempts to undermine our country and our friends,” the statement reads.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn arrived in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on board a U.S. military plane on Thursday night, making her the fourth American senator to visit the island democracy in recent weeks.
A number of Republican senators backed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious trip to Taiwan last month, including Tennessee’s Blackburn, a member of the Senate’s Commerce and Armed Services Committees.
Blackburn tweeted as soon as she arrived, “I just landed in Taiwan to send a message to Beijing – we will not be bullied.”
She had visited Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands before her trip to Taiwan as part of another show of force against China.
“I met with Secretary of Defense Akipe and Deputy Chief of Defense Force Commodore Polewara in Papua New Guinea with the goal of strengthening our strategic partnership. We are aware that the CCP just want world dominance. She said in a tweet that “we must fight it together.”
The senator traveled alone; no other politicians were present. She referred to China as the “Axis of Evil” in a statement.
It’s time to put more effort into praising Taiwan for its dedication to democratic principles and making sure they have the tools they need to fight Communist China and the New Axis of Evil. I’m in Taiwan for that reason,” she tweeted.
The most recent example of what has become a norm on Capitol Hill is Blackburn’s trip to Taiwan.
A party of congressmen, including Reps. John Garamendi of California, Alan Lowenthal of California, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Amata Radewagen of American Samoa, visited the island in mid-August under the leadership of Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts.
Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana led a delegation of state representatives to the democratically run island a few days ago.
Pelosi was the first to anger China when she traveled to Taiwan alongside Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Suzanne DelBene of Washington, Andy Kim of New Jersey, and Mark Takano of California.
China said that by permitting Pelosi, who they described as the third-most influential person, to visit the island, the United States was “playing with fire” after the visit.
China says that these trips violate American policy, known as “One China,” which recognizes Beijing as the only legitimate government of China. The United States has long engaged in a policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan’s defense, refusing to clarify whether it would become involved if hostilities with China started.
Taiwan is always in danger of being invaded by China, which considers the democratic island to be a part of its territory that will one day be reclaimed, if necessary by force.
Beijing reacts angrily to any diplomatic move that may give Taiwan legitimacy. Since Pelosi’s visit, it has reacted to visits by Western officials and lawmakers with increasing rage and staged its biggest-ever display of military might in the skies and seas around Taiwan, including the launching of ballistic missiles.
Hours after Indiana’s governor met with Taiwan’s president in a further act of defiance against Beijing, Taiwan’s defense ministry said that four Chinese aircraft had violated the Taiwan Strait’s median line on Monday.
The Chinese Communist Party of President Xi has sent warnings to the United States for sending legislators to Taiwan.
As China continues to step up its military exercises close to the self-governing island, the planes breached the middle line, which functions as an unofficial border.
Days before to the meeting, Washington began trade negotiations with Taipei as a show of solidarity in response to China’s military threats to the island.
Taiwan is always in danger of being invaded by China, which considers the democratic island to be a part of its territory that will one day be reclaimed, if necessary by force.
Beijing reacts angrily to any diplomatic move that may give Taiwan legitimacy. Since Pelosi’s visit, it has reacted to visits by Western officials and lawmakers with increasing rage and staged its biggest-ever display of military might in the skies and seas around Taiwan, including the launching of ballistic missiles.