(Taipei) US parliamentarians tweeted their arrival in Taiwan on Thursday, the second such visit to the autonomous democratic island in a month.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden angered Beijing after inviting Taiwan to a virtual summit for democracy, which will bring together some 110 countries in December, but not China.
The Asian giant considers Taiwan as one of its provinces although it does not control the island of 23 million inhabitants.
In recent weeks, the passes of arms have multiplied between Beijing and Washington on the fate of the territory that Beijing claims as part of its territory and has sworn to take it back one day, by force if necessary.
“When news of our trip was announced yesterday, my office received a firm message from the Chinese Embassy, asking me to cancel the trip,” Elissa Slotkin, elected House Democrat, wrote on Twitter.
Nancy Mace, the only Republican member of this delegation announced her arrival on Twitter with a selfie accompanied by a “I have just arrived in the Republic of Taiwan”.
This choice of wording is significant, the official name of Taiwan is the Republic of China, but supporters of its independence often use the expression “Republic of Taiwan”.
China is working to keep Taipei isolated on the international stage and refuses any official use of the word “Taiwan”, fearing that it will give the island a sense of international legitimacy.
Only 15 countries officially recognize Taipei compared to Beijing.
Last week, Taiwan opened a representative office in Lithuania under the name Taiwan, which aroused the ire of Beijing, which decided to limit its diplomatic relations with Vilnius.
The U.S. delegation, led by led by Mark Takano, chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Committee, includes Colin Allred and Sara Jacobs, as well as Mr.me Slotkin and Mme Mace.
Xavier Chang, a spokesperson for Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the visit attests to the “strong friendship between Taiwan and the United States”.
The American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy, said the two-day visit would focus on “US-Taiwan relations, regional security and other important issues of mutual interest.” .