Taiwan’s security as tech hub is of global concern, visiting U.S. senator says

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TAIPEI — Know-how hub Taiwan is a “nation of world significance” and its safety has implications for the world, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez stated on Friday in a gathering with President Tsai Ing-wen.

Menendez, chairman of the U.S. Senate International Relations Committee, was a part of a bipartisan group of six U.S. lawmakers visiting Taipei in a present of help for the democratic island within the face of Chinese language strain.

The USA has no formal relations with Chinese language-claimed Taiwan however is its most essential worldwide backer and arms provider.

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“With Taiwan producing 90% of the world’s high-end semiconductor merchandise, it’s a nation of world significance, consequence and influence, and due to this fact it must be understood the safety of Taiwan has a world influence,” Menendez informed Tsai in a gathering within the presidential workplace broadcast reside on-line.

The go to, and his use of the phrase “nation” to check with Taiwan, is more likely to infuriate China, which dismisses any suggestion Taiwan is a rustic. China regards the island as one among its provinces.

Menendez acknowledged that the Chinese language authorities was “very sad” with the delegation’s go to however that will not dissuade the group from supporting Taiwan.

Taiwan has been heartened by U.S. help supplied by the Biden administration, which has repeatedly talked of its “rock-solid” dedication to the democratically ruled island.

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That has added to strains in Sino-U.S. relations.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has additionally put Taipei on alert for any potential strikes by Beijing to make use of the Ukraine disaster to make a transfer on the island. The federal government has reported no uncommon Chinese language exercise.

Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham informed Tsai through the delegation’s assembly that the battle in Ukraine and provocative conduct by China have united U.S. opinion in a means not seen earlier than.

“We’ll stand with you. To desert Taiwan can be to desert democracy and freedom,” he stated.

The delegation, which arrived late on Thursday from Australia for an unannounced two-day journey, will even meet Taiwan’s international minister, Joseph Wu, and Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng. (Reporting By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Modifying by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel and Edmund Klamann)