Taipei: A delegation of five members of the French Parliament and another group from the United States (US) Congress will visit Taiwan this week. The visit was intended to show their support for Taiwan amid tensions with China.

The visit of the French delegation to Taiwan will be the first since continental Europe. The trip will come after a number of visits by the US delegation – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – sparked Chinese anger.

China views Taiwan as an island apart and could one day be brought back to the mainland, by military force if necessary. Visits by senior officials from the United States and other countries to Taiwan are seen by Beijing as a form of opposition to the “One China” policy.

“The French delegation arrived on Wednesday and will stay here until next Monday. They will meet the vice president, not the president Tsai Ing-wen,” said the Taiwanese foreign minister, quoted on the website. Asian news channels on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

“The meeting between the delegations will be chaired by the People’s Representative (Senator) Cyril Pellevat,” he added.

Additionally, multiple sources claim that U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy, a Democratic Party politician from Florida, will lead another House political delegation. They also arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, and will stay there until Friday.

Besides Murphy, other members of the US delegation are Democratic Party politician Kaiali’i Kahele and Republican politicians Scott Franklin, Joe Wilson, Andy Barr, Darrell Issa, Claudia Tenney and Kat Cammack.

Meanwhile, Taiwan is working hard to strengthen its ties with like-minded democracies, especially at a time when tensions with China continue to grow. This year again, Taiwan will welcome German, British and Canadian delegations. (Gabriella Carissa Maharani Prahyta)

Read: President of Taiwan: Our military capacity increases thanks to China

(WILL)