Chairman of US Congressional Committee on CCP arrives in Taiwan

US House Representative Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will lead a delegation to Taiwan today.

This visit comes following last month’s election of William Lai Ching-te, who represents the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Gallagher is expected to meet with Lai and Hsiao Bi-kihm, the Vice-President-elect and former de-facto US ambassador. China has openly denounced the DPP victory and has allegedly put pressure on Taiwan’s formal allies to sever their ties. For instance, Nauru announced it would be breaking ties with Taiwan in favour of China two days after the election outcome. This makes diplomatic visits like Gallagher’s pivotal for the political and economic standing of Taiwan, despite the US not legally recognising it as an independent actor.

Whilst Beijing is not expected to conduct large-scale military demonstrations towards Taiwan, like during Nancy Pelosi’s visit, the PLA will likely increase its military presence and conduct demonstrations along the Taiwan Strait in response. A US strengthening of ties with Taiwan may suggest further decoupling from China, especially as the White House continues to impose economic sanctions on Chinese companies. In the short term, this may yield anti-US rhetoric from Beijing on the basis of the One-China principle. Longer-term impacts of this meeting may see intensified political skirmishes between the US and China.