Taiwan Has Right to Be Free and ‘Preserve Self-Determination,’ Senior US Senator Says

TAIPEI—Taiwan has the right to be free and “preserve self-determination,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee and one of the strongest advocates for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress, told the island’s president on Friday.

Wicker told Taiwan President Lai Ching-te during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei that he and his colleague, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), were visiting to get a better understanding of Taiwan’s needs and concerns.

“We come here from the United States bringing a message from the Congress of commitment, of long-term friendship and a determination that a free country like Taiwan absolutely has the right to remain free and preserve self-determination,” Wicker said.

The Chinese regime, which regularly denounces any shows of support for Taipei from Washington, repeated its opposition to Wicker’s trip. The Chinese regime firmly opposes any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Wicker is visiting democratically governed Taiwan, which China’s ruling Communist Party views as its own territory, as Beijing ratchets up its military pressure on the island.

The Chinese regime has increased its military activities around Taiwan over the past five years or so, including staging war games. The communist regime has never renounced the potential use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

Lai reiterated to Wicker his offer to talk to China—which Beijing has repeatedly rejected—but said that Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its people.

Taiwan hopes to strengthen its security cooperation with the United States, including on designing and manufacturing weapons, Lai added.

The U.S. Senate is due to consider next week the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, a nearly $1 trillion bill that sets policy for the Pentagon.

Wicker, speaking earlier on Friday as he arrived at Taipei’s downtown airport on a U.S. Air Force 737, said that this year’s NDAA would “add to the provisions again” when it came to Taiwan, though he gave no details.

Wicker is visiting just a few days before Beijing holds a mass military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, where guests include Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

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