Lindsey Graham was the primary American lawmaker to step off the airplane after his congressional delegation landed at Songshan Airport in Taipei on Thursday night, beginning a whirlwind go to to Taiwan which has already angered China.

The Republican senator for South Carolina is main the congressional delegation, or CODEL, which was greeted on the tarmac by Taiwanese officers together with Overseas Minister Joseph Wu. The group of six U.S. legislators consists of New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez, their go to an unmistakable sign of solitary with Taiwan's management at a time of accelerating political and army stress from Beijing.

Washington severed diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979. It established formal relations with Beijing partially to tackle their as soon as frequent Chilly Conflict foe, the Soviet Union. America's relations with Taiwan have remained sturdy however formally unofficial, whereas China nonetheless claims the island as a part of its territory—and has threatened to make use of power to seize it.

Lindsey Graham Leads Congressional Delegation to Taiwan
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questions Supreme Courtroom nominee Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson throughout her Senate Judiciary Committee affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 2022. Graham, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and 4 different members of Congress arrived in Taiwan for an official go to on April 14.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese language Overseas Ministry, mentioned on Thursday that China "opposes official interactions of any type between the U.S. and Taiwan." The U.S. ought to "cease going additional and additional down this harmful path," he mentioned in a quick response at a daily press briefing in Beijing.

In a press release on its web site, Taiwan's Overseas Ministry mentioned the CODEL, the primary to go to Taipei this 12 months, requested that Taiwan be included in Asia itinerary, demonstrating Congress' robust bipartisan assist.

"Senator Graham and the opposite heavyweight members of the U.S. Congress will certainly strengthen the shut friendship between Taiwan and america, and additional deepen the worldwide partnership between the 2 sides in varied fields," it mentioned.

The opposite members of the GOP-heavy CODEL are Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas—all Republicans. The lawmakers, anticipated to depart Taipei on Friday afternoon native time, have been scheduled to satisfy with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Protection Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, amongst others.

"The members of the visiting delegation will change views with our officers on varied problems with significance to Taiwan-U.S. relations," the Overseas Ministry mentioned.

Taipei describes the CODEL as pro-Taiwan, with members of the group having both launched, co-sponsored or supported laws favorable to the island's safety or diplomatic house.

Menendez, who chairs the Senate Committee on Overseas Relations, has backed additional arms gross sales to Taiwan, a name shared by different members of the committee actively monitoring Taiwan's protection planning.

"The U.S.'s dedication to the individuals of Taiwan—and our obligation to safeguard Taiwan's house to make its personal determinations about its personal future with out risk of coercion or use of power—should be unequivocal," Menendez mentioned at a committee listening to in December.