Media reviews say US Senator Roger Wicker might go to Taiwan after President William Lai Ching-te cancelled a visit to Latin America.
Taipei, Taiwan – A senior United States Republican legislator is reportedly planning a visit to Taiwan, in accordance with media reviews, the place fears have been rising that US President Donald Trump is shedding curiosity in relations with the democratic, self-ruled island in favour of constructing ties with China.
The Monetary Instances reported on Thursday that US Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi is planning to go to Taiwan in August, citing three folks acquainted with the matter.
Wicker is the Republican chair of the highly effective Senate Armed Providers Committee and “one in all Taiwan’s largest allies in Congress”, in accordance with the report.
Wicker’s workplace and the American Institute in Taiwan – Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei – didn’t instantly reply to Al Jazeera’s request for touch upon the reported journey.
US legislators usually go to Taiwan, an unofficial ally of Washington, however Wicker’s journey comes at a time of uncertainty for US-Taiwan relations.
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te was reportedly planning to cease within the US subsequent month en path to visiting allies in Latin America, however he cancelled his journey plans after Trump nixed a layover in New York, the Monetary Instances additionally reported, citing folks acquainted with the matter.
Lai’s workplace by no means formally introduced the journey, however on Monday, his workplace mentioned the president had no plans to journey abroad as he centered on storm cleanup in southern Taiwan and tariff negotiations with the US.
The timing of President Lai’s cancelled go to was famous in Taiwan, because it was adopted by a separate announcement from Trump that he hoped to go to China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping as Beijing and Washington hammer out a tariff deal.
Xi, who additionally heads the Chinese language Communist Celebration, has pledged to annex Taiwan by peace or by pressure and considers Lai and his Democratic Progressive Celebration (DPP) to be “separatists”.
Beijing objects to visits by Taiwanese leaders to the US, even when they’re carried out on an unofficial foundation.
Specialists say it’s potential that Wicker’s journey was deliberate months in the past, however the go to might nonetheless be utilized by US legislators to assuage fears that the White Home is shedding curiosity in Taiwan.
“I’m certain many will hope for phrases of affirmation and dedication to the US-Taiwan relationship, which earlier than could be par for the course, however at the moment will really feel additional wanted to guarantee each the DPP and Taiwanese residents who’ve a declining view of america,” mentioned Lev Nachman, a political scientist at Nationwide Taiwan College in Taipei.
Though the US is Taiwan’s safety guarantor and has pledged to supply Taipei with the means to defend itself, there are deep currents of scepticism in the direction of the US – often known as yimeilun – operating by way of Taiwanese society.
That has grown extra outstanding since Trump took workplace final 12 months and mentioned that Taiwan ought to pay for its personal defence, later threatening to slap a 32 p.c tariff on Taiwanese exports.
A survey in April of 1,500 Taiwanese voters by Nachman and others discovered that simply 23.1 p.c seen the US as both a “reliable or very reliable” associate, down from 33.6 p.c in June 2024 when US President Joe Biden was nonetheless in workplace.
“The Trump administration’s coverage decisions are impacting public opinion in Taiwan and South Korea. Within the span of some months, attitudes in the direction of america in each Taiwan and South Korea have turn out to be extra unfavourable. Nonetheless, america continues to be crucial associate for Taiwan and South Korea,” the survey mentioned.
