Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement after concluding a successful visit to Taiwan:

“As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have made Taiwan a top priority. Working in a bipartisan way, we’ve pushed for Taiwan’s inclusion on international panels — including the World Health Organization — strengthened security ties, and  opened doors to more opportunities for both American and Taiwanese workers. I was honored to fly on Saturday’s first direct flight between Ontario, California and Taiwan. And I will continue to promote our partnership that is rooted in a shared commitment to democracy, human rights and rule of law.”

Prior to his arrival in Taiwan, Chairman Royce participated in a ceremony celebrating China Airlines’ new daily non-stop service from Ontario, California to Taoyuan, Taiwan. Chairman Royce flew on the inaugural flight, which is an initiative he worked on for years that will lead to significant economic benefits for both Americans and Taiwanese. 

The Chairman’s trip comes days after the president signed into law the Taiwan Travel Act (H.R. 535). Championed by Chairman Royce, the bipartisan legislation encourages visits between the United States and Taiwan at all levels. 

During his visit Chairman Royce met with:

  • President Tsai Ing-wen
  • Speaker Su Chia-chyuan and Legislative Yuan members
  • Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan
  • Premier William Lai
  • NSC Secretary General David Lee

Note: This is Chairman Royce’s sixth visit to Taiwan since becoming Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. During his visit last year, Chairman Royce was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon for his outstanding contributions to Taiwan’s development.

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