On Thursday, December 5th, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated during his visit to Guam that he had conversations with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and other American congressional leaders. This visit marked the second stop of Lai Ching-te’s Pacific Islands tour.
During this Pacific Islands journey, Lai Ching-te engaged in conversations with Speaker Johnson and other congressional leaders, including Democrat Nancy Pelosi, a staunch supporter of Taiwan and former Speaker of the House, as well as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Additionally, Lai Ching-te had a video call with Senator Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, as reported by the Associated Press.
After his visits to Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu, Lai Ching-te arrived in Guam on Wednesday evening.
During his meetings with the Governor of Guam and the legislative bodies, Lai emphasized the shared values and strategic importance of Taiwan and Guam in the Indo-Pacific region.
Lai Ching-te stated, “Let us together become the key forces defending freedom and democracy in the first island chain.”
The “First Island Chain” refers to a chain formed by islands in the western Pacific, stretching from the Kuril Islands in the north, through Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, to Borneo.
The United States is the primary overseas supplier of defense weapons to Taiwan and has naval and air force bases in Guam.
The Chinese authorities oppose any official activities between the United States and the Taiwan government, labeling the Taiwan issue as the “first unbreakable red line” in US-China relations.
Lai Ching-te will travel from Guam to Palau, also known as Belau, which is his final destination on this trip. The President of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr., has repeatedly criticized Chinese pressure on the country to sever ties with Taiwan.