US senator makes unannounced Taiwan trip, the latest of several by congressional legislators

Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, arrives in Taipei for a three-day stay, according to Taiwan’s foreign ministry

Visit follows delegations led by Senator Ed Markey and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats, which drew harsh response by Beijing

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US Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, walks with Douglas Yu-Tien Hsu, the head of Taiwan’s department of North American affairs, after her arrival in Taipei on Thursday night. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP

Published: 2:46am, 26 Aug 2022Updated: 4:22am, 26 Aug 2022

Another US lawmaker has arrived in Taiwan, the fourth such trip by an American politician this month amid increased tensions with Beijing.

Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, and her aides landed aboard a US Army plane at Taipei’s Songshan Airport close to midnight on Thursday.

The Presidential Office in Taipei said in a late-night statement that Blackburn would meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday.

During her visit, an previously unannounced three-day stay, she is also to meet Wellington Koo, secretary general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, the foreign ministry said in a statement after her arrival.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (right) with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on August 3. Tsai is expected to meet with Senator Blackburn on Friday. Photo: Taiwan Presidential Palace/dpa

Calling her a friend of Taiwan who had sponsored a number of US bills beneficial to the island, the ministry said the visit by yet another US lawmaker at a time of rising tensions in the region indicated firm US support and commitment for Taiwan.

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