US lawmakers led by China hawk Mike Gallagher to visit Taiwan next week
- Gallagher, who heads House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is due to arrive on February 21, report says
- While the trip is certain to rile Beijing, analysts do not expect the PLA to respond with large-scale drills around the island
Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is due to arrive in Taiwan on February 21, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing three people familiar with the plan.
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They will also meet newly elected parliamentary speaker Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang, a Beijing-friendly party.
Taiwan’s presidential office has not confirmed the visit, while the foreign ministry said it did not have “related information at present” and that it “always welcomes American congressmen and friends from various sectors to visit and show support to Taiwan”.
Wisconsin Republican Gallagher said he planned to travel to the island with committee members “this quarter” during a January 19 podcast with American political commentator Hugh Hewitt.
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He named Lai as one of the officials he would meet and said he had learned a lot from Lai when they met during his visit to Taiwan in February last year. Gallagher also told Hewitt that he looked forward to meeting Hsiao Bi-khim, the vice president-elect and Taiwan’s former de facto ambassador to the US. He said Hsiao and Lai would “make a strong team”.
Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, to be reunited by force if necessary, has denounced Lai as an “obstinate separatist” whose leadership could bring war to the island and blacklisted Hsiao over what it saw as her advocacy of Taiwan independence.
Most countries – including the United States, Taipei’s informal ally and top arms supplier – do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state but are opposed to any attempt to forcibly change the status quo.
Analysts expect Beijing to respond to Gallagher’s trip, especially if he meets Lai and Hsiao.
“Beijing is certain to be riled by Gallagher’s visit but not to the point that it would send dozens of warplanes and warships to surround and menace Taiwan,” said Huang Kwei-bo, a professor of diplomacy at National Chengchi University in Taipei.
He said Beijing was likely to react with “routine actions” such as verbal protests and small-scale military operations around the island.
James Yifan Chen, a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in New Taipei City, said the US Congress would continue to support Lai and the DPP government after Gallagher’s departure.
“With or without him, the US bipartisan support of Taiwan will remain strong,” Chen said.
He said Gallagher’s hawkish stand on Beijing would also remain strong. “He might be able to raise his anti-China voice in another higher [government] position,” Chen said.
Gallagher has advanced a series of bipartisan recommendations for Congress to enact, including establishing a Taiwan arms stockpile, and swift delivery of the backlog of US$19 billion worth of weapons the US has yet to ship to the island.
