Members of the Congressional delegation meet with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (center right) at the Taipei Guest House (Photo courtesy Rep. Kahele)

• In a news release, U.S. Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02) announced that he met with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Taiwan.
• The meeting occurred on the last day of a five-day Congressional delegation to South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan to meet with diplomatic, government and security leaders.
• According to the South China Morning Post, which called the arrival a “previously unannounced visit certain to irk Beijing”, the trip was led by Representative Stephanie Murphy – a Florida Democrat who, along with Kahele, sits on the House Armed Services Committee. The newspaper said this is the sixth U.S. political delegation to visit in five weeks, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to Taipei. 

From the Kahele news release:

Today, Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02) announced he met with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Taiwan. The meeting with President Tsai reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s strong Democracy.

The meeting occurred on the last day of a five-day Congressional delegation to South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan to meet with diplomatic, government and security leaders.

Members of the Congressional Delegation and Congressman Kahele (fifth from right) meet with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei (Photo courtesy Rep. Kahele)

“The security and economic freedom of the Indo-Pacific region is vital to the future of the United States. Taiwan’s thriving economy and Democracy make them a regional and global leader. Our meeting reconfirmed America’s commitment to their prosperity at a moment when the world is watching,” said Congressman Kahele. “Hawaiʻi prides itself on being the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific, and we will benefit from deepening economic and security ties with Taiwan. I conveyed to President Tsai our appreciation for her two previous visits to Hawaiʻi, her work to recognize and advance indigenous peoples and our interest in returning direct air service from Taipei to Honolulu to help bolster our joint tourism efforts.”

In addition to meeting with President Tsai, Congressman Kahele met with members of the Legislative Yuan, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, Secretary-General Wellington Koo in addition to members of the National Security Council and representatives at the American Institute in Taiwan.