Kamal Ghorui
A bipartisan group of four US senators will visit Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in the coming days ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned trip to Beijing in May, in a move aimed at reinforcing American alliances in Asia.The delegation, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, includes Senators John Curtis, Thom Tillis and Jacky Rosen.The stop in Taiwan is likely to attract scrutiny from China, which opposes such high-level engagement and considers it a challenge to its claim over the self-governed island. Taiwan continues to depend on US backing, though recent moves by the Trump administration, including discussions around potential arms sales, have raised questions about the future trajectory of policy.Analysts in both Washington and Beijing believe Chinese President Xi Jinping may use the upcoming summit to push for a softer US stance on Taiwan. “This bipartisan delegation demonstrates Congress’ commitment to these alliances and partnerships is unwavering and will endure well beyond any one administration,” Shaheen said in a statement, as quoted by AP.The lawmakers are expected to meet political leaders and defence officials across the three destinations, aiming to reassure allies of sustained US support. “Our alliance with Taiwan is one of the most strategically and morally significant partnerships America has in the Indo-Pacific,” Curtis said.The visit also comes amid concerns among some US lawmakers that American actions in regions such as Venezuela and Iran could create openings for rivals like China and Russia to expand their influence.At the same time, economic ties with Taiwan remain under focus. The US relies heavily on Taiwanese semiconductor production, contributing to a trade imbalance of nearly USD 127 billion in the first 11 months of 2025. In February, Washington and Taipei reached an agreement eliminating 99 per cent of trade barriers between them.
