TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) expressed condolences Sunday following the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, praising the longtime lawmaker's support for Taiwan.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died Saturday at age 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness, per CNA. He had served in the Senate since 2003 and was a prominent supporter of Taiwan and a close political ally of President Donald Trump.
In a post on X, Lai said he was deeply saddened by Graham's passing and called him “a true friend of Taiwan.” He said Taiwan would always remember Graham as "an unwavering advocate and defender of freedom," and extended his deepest condolences to the senator's family and friends, CNA reported.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said Graham had been a steadfast friend of Taiwan in Congress, per UDN. During his tenure, he championed Taiwan-friendly legislation, the country's international participation, stronger self-defense capabilities, and closer Taiwan-US economic and trade ties.
Kuo noted that Graham had visited Taiwan three times, including leading a bipartisan delegation of US senators and representatives in 2022, UDN reported. During his speech on that trip, Graham said, “To abandon Taiwan would be to abandon democracy and freedom. It would be to abandon free trade. It would reward the worst in humanity.”
Kuo said Lai, on behalf of the Taiwanese, thanked Graham for his longstanding contributions to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan-US relations, and expressed the nation's highest respect.
