A senior Republican lawmaker is reportedly preparing to visit Taiwan next month, as questions grow over whether US President Donald Trump is shifting focus away from the self-ruled island in favor of warmer ties with China.
According to the Financial Times, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and described as one of Taiwan’s staunchest allies in Congress, is set to travel to Taipei in August. The report, citing three sources familiar with the matter, said details of the trip are still being finalized.
Neither Wicker’s office nor the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei, responded to requests for comment.
The visit comes during a tense period in US-Taiwan relations. Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te recently scrapped a planned stopover in New York on his way to Latin America after Trump reportedly opposed the layover. Lai’s office has since said he is focusing on typhoon recovery and ongoing tariff talks with Washington.
The cancellation coincided with Trump’s announcement that he hopes to visit China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping as part of efforts to hammer out a sweeping trade deal. Xi has repeatedly pledged to annex Taiwan, by force if necessary, and labels Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as “separatists.”
Experts say Wicker’s visit could help reassure Taipei about Washington’s commitment to the island’s defense, even as doubts about US reliability grow under Trump.
“I’m sure many will hope for words of affirmation and commitment to the US-Taiwan relationship… today that feels extra needed,” said Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University.
Trump has previously said Taiwan should “pay for its own defense” and threatened tariffs of up to 32 percent on Taiwanese exports. A survey earlier this year found only 23 percent of Taiwanese voters consider the US a trustworthy partner, down 10 points from mid-2024.
Despite unofficial ties, US lawmakers frequently visit Taiwan, which relies on American security guarantees and arms sales to deter Chinese military threats.
With input from Al Jazeera
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