Media stories say US Senator Roger Wicker might go to Taiwan after President William Lai Ching-te cancelled a visit to Latin America.
Taipei, Taiwan – A senior United States Republican legislator is reportedly planning a visit to Taiwan, in response to media stories, the place fears have been rising that US President Donald Trump is shedding curiosity in relations with the democratic, self-ruled island in favour of constructing ties with China.
The Monetary Occasions reported on Thursday that US Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi is planning to go to Taiwan in August, citing three folks accustomed to the matter.
Wicker is the Republican chair of the highly effective Senate Armed Companies Committee and “one in every of Taiwan’s largest allies in Congress”, in response to the report.
Wicker’s workplace and the American Institute in Taiwan – Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei – didn’t instantly reply to Al Jazeera’s request for touch upon the reported journey.
US legislators often go to Taiwan, an unofficial ally of Washington, however Wicker’s journey comes at a time of uncertainty for US-Taiwan relations.
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te was reportedly planning to cease within the US subsequent month en path to visiting allies in Latin America, however he cancelled his journey plans after Trump nixed a layover in New York, the Monetary Occasions additionally reported, citing folks accustomed to the matter.
Lai’s workplace by no means formally introduced the journey, however on Monday, his workplace stated the president had no plans to journey abroad as he targeted on storm cleanup in southern Taiwan and tariff negotiations with the US.
The timing of President Lai’s cancelled go to was famous in Taiwan, because it was adopted by a separate announcement from Trump that he hoped to go to China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping as Beijing and Washington hammer out a tariff deal.
Xi, who additionally heads the Chinese language Communist Celebration, has pledged to annex Taiwan by peace or by power and considers Lai and his Democratic Progressive Celebration (DPP) to be “separatists”.
Beijing objects to visits by Taiwanese leaders to the US, even when they’re carried out on an unofficial foundation.
Specialists say it’s attainable that Wicker’s journey was deliberate months in the past, however the go to might nonetheless be utilized by US legislators to assuage fears that the White Home is shedding curiosity in Taiwan.
“I’m certain many will hope for phrases of affirmation and dedication to the US-Taiwan relationship, which earlier than could be par for the course, however at the moment will really feel additional wanted to guarantee each the DPP and Taiwanese residents who’ve a declining view of the US,” stated Lev Nachman, a political scientist at Nationwide Taiwan College in Taipei.
Though the US is Taiwan’s safety guarantor and has pledged to offer Taipei with the means to defend itself, there are deep currents of scepticism in the direction of the US – often called yimeilun – operating by means of Taiwanese society.
That has grown extra distinguished since Trump took workplace final yr and stated that Taiwan ought to pay for its personal defence, later threatening to slap a 32 p.c tariff on Taiwanese exports.
A survey in April of 1,500 Taiwanese voters by Nachman and others discovered that simply 23.1 p.c considered the US as both a “reliable or very reliable” companion, down from 33.6 p.c in June 2024 when US President Joe Biden was nonetheless in workplace.
“The Trump administration’s coverage selections are impacting public opinion in Taiwan and South Korea. Within the span of some months, attitudes in the direction of the US in each Taiwan and South Korea have develop into extra unfavorable. Nonetheless, the US continues to be a very powerful companion for Taiwan and South Korea,” the survey stated.
