Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen held a meeting with Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, on Wednesday to discuss the increasing pressure from China on Taiwan's sovereignty.
The meeting between the two leaders took place at the Presidential Office in Taipei, where they discussed the challenges faced by Taiwan and the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region.
During the meeting, President Tsai thanked the United States for its support in defending Taiwan's democracy and sovereignty. She also stressed the need for closer cooperation between Taiwan and the United States to counter the growing threat from China.
Speaker McCarthy reaffirmed the United States' commitment to Taiwan's security and democracy, and expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership between the two countries.
The meeting comes amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, with China increasing its military presence in the region and engaging in aggressive rhetoric towards Taiwan.
Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has been a self-governing democracy since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. However, China considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and has vowed to use force if necessary to bring Taiwan under its control.
The United States, which does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, has nevertheless maintained close ties with the island and has provided military and diplomatic support to Taipei.
The meeting between President Tsai and Speaker McCarthy is seen as a sign of the growing cooperation between Taiwan and the United States, and a reaffirmation of their shared commitment to defending democracy and freedom in the face of authoritarianism.
