TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As part of a broader trip to the Indo-Pacific region, Senator Jeff Merkley arrived in Taiwan on Monday (Nov. 25) to engage in bilateral discussions on Taiwan-US relations, regional security, trade, and other shared concerns, according to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). 

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Merkley has been a staunch advocate for strengthening ties with Taiwan and other democracies, per AIT. He is also a vocal supporter of human rights for Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans, ethnic Mongolians, and other marginalized groups.

In April, Merkley and Senator Marco Rubio introduced a resolution reaffirming America’s commitment to Taiwan’s democracy while commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. At the time, Merkley emphasized that “strong partnerships like the United States’ with Taiwan are crucial to advancing our interests around the globe.”

Merkley’s visit comes amid renewed tensions between the US and China. While the US has pledged to continue dialogue, Beijing recently rejected a US request for a meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun (董軍) at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Laos earlier this month.

The rebuff was reportedly linked to the US' recent potential sale of three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAM) and 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range to Taiwan, according to a senior US defense official.