A cross-party delegation led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) arrived in Washington D.C. on Sunday to honor United States President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The delegation met with House of Representatives members regarding security issues and the double taxation agreement.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States arranged for the delegation to visit the U.S. Congress, allowing them to meet with 18 congressmen over lunch and discuss issues such as national defense and arms sales while visiting various offices.
The cross-party legislative delegation visited U.S. senators and congressmen on Tuesday. (Photo: Jean Kuo's Facebook)
Democratic Congressman Don Beyer, who attended the lunch, underscored the importance of strengthening the partnership and friendship between the two nations as the main message conveyed by the Taiwanese delegation.
Republican Congressman Keith Self noted that the meeting reiterated that the United States always stands with Taiwan on security issues in the Indo-Pacific, adding that the U.S. should speed up the delivery of weapons systems already purchased by Taiwan.
Han emphasized that the cross-party legislative delegation was visiting the U.S. Congress as a sign of friendship on behalf of Taiwan’s 23 million people, and noted that he hoped in-depth exchanges will continue between Taiwan and the United States.
Regarding the double taxation agreement’s recent passage by the House of Representatives, Han said both the U.S. and Taiwan will mutually benefit while noting that Taiwan’s businesses stand to benefit the most. Han said he made his gratitude known to every member of the House, and said he hoped the Senate would pass it as well.
Taiwan’s eight-member delegation includes Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislators Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), and Jean Kuo (郭昱晴), Kuomintang (KMT) Legislators Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞), Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀), Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), as well as Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿).
Four of Taiwan's eight-member legislative delegation–Han, Wang, Ko, and Chen–attended Trump’s inauguration livestream event in the VIP room at the Capitol One Arena on Monday.