TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday welcomed US Senator Tammy Duckworth, who plans to meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).
She arrived on Monday and is staying until Wednesday. Duckworth will discuss Taiwan-US relations, regional security, and trade and technology cooperation with government officials, the ministry said. They will also exchange views on recent developments in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
Duckworth has been a member of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, putting her name to motions backing Taiwan for many years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she boarded a military aircraft to tell Taiwan the US was donating urgently needed vaccines, according to the ministry.
In collaboration with Senator Dan Sullivan, she tabled the “STAND with Taiwan Act,” aiming to impose severe sanctions on China if it attacked Taiwan. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) expressed gratitude to Duckworth for visiting Taiwan again during an important time.
The senator’s delegation also includes Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and State Senator Paul Faraci to improve relations between Taiwan and local US governments. The ministry concluded its statement by emphasizing it was continuing its close cooperation with the US Congress, the administration, and friends from all walks of life to strengthen the close partnership between the two countries.
