Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, on Monday was completing his second US congressional delegation there this month. Pelosi was the highest-ranking US official in a quarter-century to visit Taiwan, underscoring a longstanding US policy of solidarity with the island’s democratically elected leaders. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. It considers any visit by American officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty. So far, China’s response to Markey’s delegation has been more subdued than two weeks ago, when Beijing began days of intense military maneuvers around Taiwan and froze some ties with the US government because of Pelosi’s visit. A look at some key questions about US lawmakers’ trips to Taiwan and why they matter. WHY DID MORE LAWMAKERS TRAVEL TO TAIWAN THIS MONTH? Partly, to show that they can and want to. Pelosi framed her trip to Taiwan as part of an obligation by American leaders to defend the world’s democratic movements against authoritarian governments. The mission itself is in many ways the message to lawmakers — making clear they will maintain U.S. ties with Taiwan despite threats from China, which under President Xi Jinping has become increasingly confrontational over broad territorial claims in the area. Taiwan and mainland China split during a civil war in 1949. But China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it. The US recognizes Beijing as the government of China, but maintains informal diplomatic, defense and trade ties with democratic Taiwan. Markey, a congressional veteran of more than 40 years, was one of the signatories of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. The law promised continued US relations with the Taiwanese. In a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen on Sunday, Marquis pledged “support for peace and stability in Taiwan as they face increasing authoritarian pressure from Beijing,” according to a statement from his office. But Markey also expressed a desire for the US to avoid unnecessary conflict in the region and praised Taiwan for its restraint as tensions with China rose due to Pelosi’s trip. HOW DID CHINA REACT? China responded to the news of the five-member US congressional delegation by announcing new exercises in the seas and skies surrounding Taiwan. It was not clear if the new exercises had already begun. Officials did not provide details on where and when they will be held. When Pelosi visited, Beijing fired missiles over the island and into the Taiwan Strait and sent warplanes and navy ships along the waterway’s median line, a long buffer between the sides. “China will take decisive and strong measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing on Monday. “A handful of US politicians, in cahoots with Taiwan’s independence separatist forces, are trying to challenge the one-China principle, which is out of its depth and doomed to fail.” HOW DID BIDEN RESPOND? President Joe Biden called China’s unusually aggressive response to Pelosi’s visit unjustified, saying the US is sticking to its decades-old “one China” policy. This includes no intention to recognize Taiwan as independent, but also no support for any attempt by China to change the status quo between Taipei and Beijing. The latest congressional delegation traveled with far less caution than Pelosi’s, and the White House was also quieter. He has not commented, but State Department spokesman Ned Price was asked about it on Monday. “Any response to a peaceful visit by members of Congress, any response that involves belligerent rhetoric or military maneuvers or provocative actions is completely unnecessary and an absolute overreaction,” Price said. Kurt Campbell, Biden’s coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, stressed late last week that the US will continue to take its own steps in the coming weeks and months to demonstrate and deepen support for Taiwan’s leaders. This includes an upcoming announcement on Taiwan-US trade, and US military movements through the Taiwan Strait. ARE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS IN TAIWAN UNUSUAL? Not at all. Price said there have been 10 this year alone. With one notable exception—Pelosi—they are carried out with little public attention. Administration officials had argued as part of Pelosi’s trip that congressional visits to Taiwan are normal and unremarkable, accusing Beijing of stoking tensions with caustic rhetoric. Several officials noted that the Chinese reaction to Markey’s trip was much more subdued than Pelosi’s. They also suggested it may be a sign that China is returning to its usual opposition to congressional trips to the island, while warning that ongoing Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Strait remain a concern.
AP staff writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
