A delegation of United States lawmakers, led by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, arrived in Taiwan, according to Reuters. The American Taiwan Institute, which acts as a de facto U.S. embassy, stated that the visit would continue through August 15.
The group landed at Taipei’s airport at 18:53 local time, following their flight with the rest of the delegation. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the arrival and welcomed the visitors.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yui greeted the guests, and Douglas Xu, the director general of the North American Affairs Department, joined the reception. The trip forms part of a broader congressional tour of the Indo-Pacific and was not disclosed publicly in advance.
In addition to Senator Markey, the delegation included four other members of Congress:
▪ John Garamendi, Democratic representative from California;
▪ Don Beyer, Chairman of the House Economic Committee, Democrat from Virginia;
▪ Alan Lowenthal, Democratic representative from California; and
▪ Amata Radewagen, a Republican delegate from American Samoa.
Senator Markey chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity.
Why the visit?
During their time on the island, the lawmakers planned meetings with Taiwan’s leadership, including President Tsai Ing-wen, a banquet hosted for Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and a tour of the Legislative Yuan. The purpose, as stated by the American Taiwan Institute, was to discuss shared interests in bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, resilient supply chains, climate action, and other topics of mutual importance.
A White House spokesperson noted an ambitious effort to deepen trade ties with Taiwan on August 12, while urging China to keep communication channels open with Washington despite recent tensions over Taiwan. The Taiwan side welcomed the visit as a clear sign of strong U.S. Congressional support.
Markey’s office described the plan to meet with elected leaders and private-sector representatives to talk about reducing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and broadening economic cooperation, including semiconductor investment.
Interest in semiconductors
During his own travels, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi highlighted collaboration opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing in Taiwan. She indicated that Washington aims to sustain cooperation with Taiwan, with significant potential in high-tech industries.
Reports from The Washington Post noted Pelosi’s meeting with TSMC Chief Executive Officer C. C. Morris Chang and other top executives during her Taiwan visit. President Tsai Ing-wen mentioned a luncheon with TSMC founder Morris Chang and Chairman Mark Liu, with both sides discussing closer U.S.–Taiwan collaboration across multiple fields, including supply chains, economic development, and democratic partnerships. Tsai emphasized that the United States and Taiwan share democratic values and human rights, and they continue to work together on technology and economic initiatives.
There was speculation about a new bill in Congress that could provide substantial subsidies to U.S. semiconductor plants, a point underscored by how critical chips have become for national security. TSMC’s ongoing project in Arizona, announced in 2020, was cited as part of this expanded cooperation.
TSMC is a major supplier in the global chip market, with a substantial share of high-end manufacturing. The United States relies on chips from TSMC for military hardware, national laboratories, and consumer electronics, including devices from major brands.
Russia’s response
Russian officials criticized the visit, with a spokesman from Moscow probing whether Washington was trying to reclaim influence after Pelosi’s Taiwan trip. The head of Russia’s Duma committee on international relations also argued that frequent bold visits could heighten regional tensions, reiterating Moscow’s long-standing support for the one China policy.
The commentary reflected broader debates about U.S. strategy and the shape of a multipolar order as American lawmakers continue to engage with Taiwan amid heightened regional friction.
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
On August 14, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported activity by Chinese forces, including 22 aircraft and six ships near Taiwan. The recent rounds of live-fire exercises by Beijing around the island concluded on August 8. The period following Nancy Pelosi’s August 2–3 visit saw intensified military drills by the Chinese armed forces in six maritime zones around Taiwan.
In response to these events, state media and government offices in China released papers outlining reunification strategies and the potential use of force to assert control over the island, while signaling Beijing’s preference for peaceful approaches alongside its broader regional goals.