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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

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

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Mike Gallagher’s delegation is expected to meet Taiwan’s next leader, William Lai. Photo: Reuters
Lawrence Chungin Taipei
US House Representative Mike Gallagher will reportedly lead a delegation to Taiwan next week, a trip that is likely to anger Beijing.
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But analysts do not expect the People’s Liberation Army to hold large-scale war games around the self-ruled island in response to the visit given that the lawmaker – a China hawk – has visited Taiwan before.

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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The report said Gallagher was expected to lead a delegation of seven US lawmakers on the visit, which will include a meeting with Vice-President William Lai Ching-te, who was elected as the island’s next leader in January.

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”.

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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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