Washington, D.C.— Today, U.S. Congressmen Andy Barr (R-KY), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Ami Bera (D-CA) were announced as co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus in the 118th Congress. The Congressmen will lead one of the largest Caucuses in Congress to advocate for strengthening the special U.S.-Taiwanese relationship.
“Taiwan is a trusted partner for the United States on trade, global health, and so many other key areas,” said Congressman Barr, who serves as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. “With the Chinese Communist Party increasing aggression toward Taiwan, it is more important now than ever that we renew our commitment to support a free and sovereign Taiwan. I want to thank Congressmen Diaz-Balart, Connolly, and Bera for leading this important Caucus with me.”
“This is a critical moment for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship,” said Congressman Connolly, who serves as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Our support for Taiwan, its people, and its democracy is paramount in the face of an increasingly aggressive China. I’m honored to lead this Caucus with Reps. Barr, Diaz-Balart, and Bera and I look forward to the important work ahead.”
“Taiwan is a vibrant democracy, an important security and economic partner, and force for good in the world,” said Congressman Ami Bera, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. “As the People’s Republic of China continues to isolate Taiwan from the international community and increase its economic and military pressure on Taiwan, we must strengthen our partnership with Taiwan and work together to maintain regional peace and stability. The Congressional Taiwan Caucus will continue to send a strong bipartisan message that the United States stands with the people of Taiwan and against Chinese aggression.”
“I am thrilled to kick off the Congressional Taiwan Caucus for the 118th Congress,” said Rep. Diaz-Balart, Chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Subcommittee on Appropriations. “Taiwan is a trusted friend and ally, and we must ensure that it has the resources to defend itself against PRC aggression. I look forward to continuing to promote the U.S.- Taiwan partnership and working towards our mutual goals of free market prosperity, global security, and respect for human rights and individual liberties.”
“We are pleased and honored to have Congressmen Andy Barr, Mario Diaz-Balart, Gerry Connolly and Ami Bera as the four co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC) for the 118th Congress. We deeply value the strong bipartisan support that the Caucus provides for Taiwan, and we are committed to working closely with the CTC to further enhance the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and the United States,” said Hsiao Bi-khim, Special Representative from Taiwan to the U.S.
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