Taiwan Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu met with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in Washington, D.C., to discuss diplomatic and security ties [1, 2].
The meeting underscores Taiwan's effort to secure high-level American political support amid ongoing regional tensions. By engaging both legislative leaders and defense officials, Taiwan aims to solidify the security guarantees and international standing necessary for its stability.
During the visit, Han led a cross-party delegation to the United States [3]. In addition to his meeting with Speaker Johnson, Han met with U.S. defense officials and various think tanks [1, 2]. These discussions focused on urging the U.S. to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations [1, 2].
Han also used the visit to reinforce Taiwan’s own commitments to self-defense [1, 2]. The outreach to U.S. officials is part of a broader strategy to ensure that Taiwan remains integrated into global diplomatic frameworks despite pressure from China [2].
Following the conclusion of the diplomatic mission, the delegation returned to Taiwan. The group traveled on the inaugural flight from Washington to Taoyuan International Airport [1, 3].
“Han sought U.S. backing for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations”
This visit signals a coordinated effort by Taiwan's legislative branch to maintain a bipartisan relationship with the U.S. House of Representatives. By focusing on self-defense and international organization membership, Taiwan is attempting to pivot from purely economic ties to a more robust security and diplomatic partnership to counter regional isolation.
