Taiwan Delegation Visits Washington for Trump Inauguration

Taiwan's delegation, led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, is visiting the U.S. for Donald Trump's inauguration, seeking to extend Taiwan's 'highest blessings' to the United States. Despite the inauguration being moved indoors due to cold weather, the delegation has a packed itinerary in Washington, including meetings with U.S. lawmakers and discussions at think tanks. The bipartisan group aims to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations amid rising military pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. Han emphasized that the delegation represents the 23 million people of Taiwan and conveys goodwill, while also navigating complex cross-strait relations with China. The U.S., although lacking formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, is legally obligated to provide defense support, underscoring Taiwan's strategic importance. The visit reflects Taiwan's ongoing efforts to forge international alliances amidst escalating tensions in the region.