TAIPEI — Senior members of the United States Senate armed services committee arrived in Taiwan on Friday to “reemphasize the partnership” between the US and the democratic island claimed by China.

US senators to reinforce 'partnership' with Taiwan

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, a vocal supporter of Taiwan, is leading a congressional delegation trip in the Asia-Pacific region, which has included stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and the Philippines.

Their arrival in Taipei comes as US President Donald Trump seeks to strike a trade deal with China, which insists that Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.

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“We stand here to reemphasize the partnership and the security... agreement that the United States has had with Taiwan for some decades,” Wicker told reporters ahead of meetings with Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te and other government officials.

“We have reemphasized that in the past two National Defense Authorization acts, and we will add to the provisions again in this year’s Defense Authorization Act, which will be on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday next week.”

Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, who also sits on the armed services committee, said “security, opportunities and progress for this part of the world” would be on the agenda during their two-day visit to Taiwan.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, there has been growing concern in Taipei over the strength of the Taiwan-US relationship and Washington’s willingness to defend the island if China were to attack.

While the US does not recognize Taiwan as a country, Washington is its most important backer and biggest supplier of arms.

The Trump administration reportedly denied permission for Lai to transit in New York as part of a planned official trip to Latin America this month after Beijing objected. Lai reportedly then canceled the trip.