Roger Wicker, head of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, says trip is focused on security ties with island.<\/p>\n
Published On 29 Aug 202529 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Two senior Republican senators known for their strong advocacy on Taiwan have arrived in the island\u2019s capital, Taipei, to discuss security amid a rising military threat from China.<\/p>\n
US Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Deb Fischer said on Friday their visit was to reinforce and emphasise the \u201cgreat partnership\u201d<\/a> between the United States and Taiwan.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stand here to re-emphasise the partnership and the security, friendship agreement that the United States has had with Taiwan for some decades,\u201d Wicker told reporters ahead of meetings with President William Lai Ching-te and other government officials.<\/p>\n The visit comes as the US Senate is due to consider next week the National Defence Authorisation Act, or NDAA, a nearly $1 trillion bill that sets policy for US national defence.<\/p>\n Wicker said that this year\u2019s NDAA would \u201cadd to the provisions again\u201d when it came to Taiwan, though he gave no details.<\/p>\n Before the trip, Senator Fischer issued a statement, saying she looked forward to the visit \u201cto see firsthand how we can strengthen our posture in the region in order to safeguard American interests and our allies\u201d.<\/p>\n Fischer is also a member of the powerful Armed Services Committee, which is responsible for legislative oversight of the US military.<\/p>\n The Chinese embassy last month urged Wicker and other lawmakers to cancel plans to go to Taiwan.<\/p>\n Beijing, which views the island as its own territory, regularly denounces any shows of support for Taipei from Washington.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n China has increased its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including staging war games, and Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.<\/p>\n