Duckworth reaffirms U.S. commitment in wake of Trump-Xi summit

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) Visiting U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said Tuesday that her trip to Taiwan is intended to send a clear message that U.S.-Taiwan ties remain strong and will not "be swayed by any one president."

"I am proud to be the first United States senator to visit Taiwan after the Trump-Xi summit to deliver a very strong message: regardless of president or party, Congress' commitment to Taiwan is steadfast," Duckworth said during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at the Presidential Office on Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm here to relay that the United States-Taiwan relationship is strong and enduring, not to be swayed by any one president, either Democratic or Republican," she added.

Duckworth, a Democratic senator, was referring to the summit in Beijing in May, when U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) during Trump's first visit to China since returning to the White House in 2025.

Some Taiwanese and international experts on cross-strait relations have expressed concern that warming U.S.-China ties could come at the expense of Taiwan's interests.

Addressing those concerns, Duckworth said she understood that "some voices may try to question the United States' commitment" to its allies.

"I will reiterate that I, and my bipartisan colleagues in Congress, will continue to push for continued support for Taiwan and to uphold decades of U.S. policy in support of Taiwan's security," she said.

Taiwan's security matters not only to the United States but also to the rest of the world, Duckworth said.

"A conflict or crisis in the Taiwan Strait would cost the global economy as much as US$10 trillion and put more than 7 percent of U.S. GDP at risk. That's greater than the impact of the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.

Meanwhile, Lai welcomed Duckworth on her fifth visit to Taiwan. "Your visit comes at a meaningful time. Just a few days ago, the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I offer my sincerest congratulations," Lai said through an interpreter.

Lai also thanked Duckworth for sponsoring and supporting numerous Taiwan-friendly bills over the years and for her longstanding focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"Taiwan has always striven to maintain regional peace and stability. We will continue to bolster our self-defense capabilities," Lai said.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Duckworth and her delegation arrived in the country late Monday and will remain through Wednesday.

During the visit, Duckworth is scheduled to meet with other senior Taiwanese officials to discuss Taiwan-U.S. relations, regional security, economic and trade issues, and technological cooperation, MOFA said in a press release.

Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, last visited Taiwan in May 2025.

During an earlier visit in June 2021, Duckworth announced a U.S. donation of COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan when the country faced an acute vaccine shortage at the height of the pandemic. MOFA has described her as a staunch supporter of Taiwan.

In a separate press release issued Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, said Duckworth's Taiwan stop is part of a broader visit to the Indo-Pacific region.