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US Senator Ed Markey (left) and Taiwan Deputy Secretary of State Alexander Tah-ray Yui: reception at Taipei Airport
Photo: HANDOUT/AFP
Almost two weeks after the controversial visit to Taiwan by US top politician Nancy Pelosi, a US delegation traveled to the democratically governed island state.
A five-person delegation led by Democratic Senator Ed Markey arrived in Taipei for a two-day visit, the Taipei State Department announced on Sunday.
Accordingly, US politicians will also meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen.
The Taiwan stop comes as part of a larger trip to the Indo-Pacific region, according to the American Institute in Taiwan.
The meetings in Taiwan should therefore deal with relations between the USA and Taiwan, regional security, trade, global supply chains or climate change, it said.
In response to Pelosi's visit, China had held large-scale military drills around Taiwan, including a possible conquest.
The Chinese leadership rejects official contacts from other countries to Taiwan because they see the island as part of the People's Republic.
On the other hand, Taiwan has long seen itself as independent.
After the communists won the Chinese Civil War in 1949, there was a split between China and Taiwan.
To this day, Beijing regards the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland - if necessary using military force.
On the other hand, Taiwan has long seen itself as independent.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has fueled fears that Beijing could use a similar approach in its dealings with Taiwan.
asa/dpa