A bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation arrived in Taiwan this week aiming to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to the island’s security, despite recent criticism from President Donald Trump targeting Taiwan’s industrial sector and the imposition of new trade tariffs.
Led by Republican Senators Pete Ricketts and Ted Budd, along with Democrat Chris Coons, the visit marks the first official trip by U.S. lawmakers to Taiwan under the current administration. Earlier this month, Trump unexpectedly announced a 32% tariff on Taiwanese imports as part of a broader trade offensive affecting several key U.S. allies.
“Look beyond the rhetoric and focus on the actions,” Ricketts told reporters, echoing a growing sentiment among Republicans seeking to downplay Trump’s combative tone toward Taiwan.
Despite the trade tensions and Trump’s past accusations that Taiwan had “stolen” the U.S. semiconductor industry, Taiwanese officials struck an optimistic tone during meetings, emphasizing ongoing efforts to strengthen economic and security ties with Washington.
Senator Coons expressed confidence in a “strong next chapter” for U.S.-Taiwan relations. He also noted that Taiwan is moving swiftly to address concerns raised by the Trump administration, including efforts to finalize trade and investment agreements.
This diplomatic push aligns with key commitments from Taipei. The island plans to raise its defense spending to 3% of GDP — up from the current 2.5% — and is investing in a more self-reliant military strategy. At the same time, Taiwan is backing an annual investment of $100 billion (€88 billion) from its semiconductor industry in U.S.-based chip manufacturing.
Drawing lessons from Ukraine’s resistance against Russia, Taiwan is ramping up domestic weapons production, including submarines, light arms, and air defense systems. It is also deepening cooperation with the U.S. in emerging technologies such as drone warfare.
Today, President Lai Ching-te, Defense Minister Wellington Koo, and National Security Adviser Joseph Wu are expected to meet with the U.S. delegation. Taiwanese officials have also contacted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in an effort to expedite negotiations before the 90-day tariff suspension period ends.
The visit comes amid growing regional tensions. China continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing views as a breakaway province. The escalation in trade and military posturing has renewed concerns about a potential conflict.
“There’s a real possibility that Xi Jinping could see this as the right moment for the Chinese Communist Party to take aggressive action,” warned Senator Coons. “I think that would be a serious mistake — they would be met with a strong and united response.”
