Donald Trump (archive photo)
A bipartisan group of four US senators will visit Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in the coming days ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled trip to Beijing in May, in a move aimed at strengthening US alliances in Asia.The delegation, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, includes Senators John Curtis, Thom Tillis and Jacky Rosen.The stop in Taiwan is likely to draw scrutiny from China, which opposes such high-level participation and sees it as a challenge to its claim to the self-governing island. Taiwan remains dependent on US support, although recent moves by the Trump administration, including discussions about potential arms sales, have raised questions about the future course of the policy.
Analysts in both Washington and Beijing believe that Chinese President Xi Jinping may use the upcoming summit to push for a softer US position on Taiwan. “This bipartisan delegation demonstrates that Congress’ commitment to these alliances and partnerships is unwavering and will outlast any single administration,” Shaheen said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.Lawmakers are expected to meet with political leaders and defense officials in the three destinations, with the aim of reassuring allies of continued American support.
“Our alliance with Taiwan is one of the most important partnerships America has strategically and morally in the Indo-Pacific region,” Curtis said.The visit also comes amid concerns among some US lawmakers that US actions in regions such as Venezuela and Iran could create opportunities for competitors such as China and Russia to expand their influence.At the same time, economic relations with Taiwan remain a focus. The United States relies heavily on Taiwanese semiconductor production, which contributed to a trade imbalance of about US$127 billion in the first 11 months of 2025. In February, Washington and Taipei reached an agreement to remove 99% of their trade barriers.
