On Wednesday, more than 30 U.S. House representatives from both parties pledged firm support for the self-governed island of Taiwan during a reception at the Longworth House Office Building for Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan president Han Kuo-yu. The event occurred amid the Trump administration’s review of a $14 billion arms sales package to Taiwan, which received preliminary congressional approval months ago.
The gathering included prominent figures such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and Ted Lieu (D-California), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. McCaul emphasized his personal commitment to Taiwan, stating: “I love Taiwan… It’s very important to me to say that the United States supports you, Mr. Speaker.” Pelosi added that U.S. support for Taiwan is “bipartisan and bicameral — both houses, both parties.”
Han Kuo-yu arrived in Washington after a stop in Phoenix, where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) expanded its advanced chip production facilities critical to the artificial intelligence sector. The island’s delegation met with U.S. senators prior to the House reception, though officials declined to disclose specific details beyond noting the strong congressional reception.
The island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of Chinese territory and has vowed to seize by force if necessary, remains a pivotal issue in U.S.-China relations. Washington is obligated under domestic law to provide Taiwan with sufficient defense hardware to deter potential invasion from mainland China. President Donald Trump indicated he would review the $14 billion arms package — which Beijing strongly opposes — following his recent trip to China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.
Several lawmakers urged swift approval, including Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who stated: “I’m here today… to affirm in the strongest terms that Taiwan is not a bargaining chip. It is an island of freedom, and we need to do all we can to preserve it.” Rep. Ted Lieu criticized the administration for delaying the package, urging: “I urge the administration to reverse that and to allow their arms sale to proceed.”
At the reception, Han highlighted Taiwan’s economic ties with the U.S., noting the island has surpassed Germany as the fourth-largest trading partner of the United States. He also expressed concerns about international isolation, stating: “On the international stage, Taiwan feels very lonely in its heart” and requesting U.S. assistance to participate in global organizations. Han is scheduled to depart on Friday for a historic nonstop flight between Washington Dulles International Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport operated by Taiwanese carrier EVA Air, which he described as evidence of deepening U.S.-Taiwan ties.
