U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, right, and Chris Coons are interviewed by the Associated Press in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)2025-04-18T03:19:46Z TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Republican and Democratic lawmakers made their first trip to Taiwan under the new Trump administration a bipartisan one, aiming to show both Taiwan and China that U.S. support for Taiwans defense remains broad, despite the harsh words and harsh tariffs President Donald Trump has had for the Taiwanese.Taiwans leaders so far in this weeks trip by two Republican and one Democratic senators are messaging back just as hard, assuring the Republican U.S. administration that they have taken in Trumps complaints and are acting on them. Many Asia-Pacific nations are eschewing the retaliatory criticism and tariffs of some of the U.S.'s European allies after Trump earlier this month slapped broad tariffs on many countries around the world, including a 32% one for Taiwan.Despite that hit, conversations in Taiwan this week were optimistic and forward-looking, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons said in Taipei. And Im optimistic that were going to see a strong next chapter in U.S.-Taiwan relations. That includes assurances from the Taiwanese that they are working fast to strike new trade and investment deals that suit the Trump administration, on top of the advanced-semiconductor giants $100 billion investment this year alone in chip production in the U.S.. Taking all the lessons from Ukraine in its defense against Russia and criticism from Trump, Taiwan also says it is investing fast to make their military stronger, nimbler and less dependent on the U.S., as the islands strongest deterrent against China, the U.S. lawmakers said. That includes seeking investment with Americans on drone warfare. Sens. Pete Ricketts and Coons, the ranking Republican and Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committees East Asia subcommittee, spoke ahead of scheduled talks Friday with President Lai Ching-te, Defense Minister Wellington Koo and national security adviser Joseph Wu. Republican Sen. Ted Budd also is on the trip. The mission comes at a time that an economy-shaking trade war between the U.S. and China has some warning that China could strike out at Taiwan, a self-governed island with a vibrant democracy and the worlds top production of the most advanced semiconductors. China claims Taiwan as its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary. Trump has repeatedly accused Taiwan of stealing the United States computer chip industry. His criticism of Taiwan, and his insistence last year that Taiwan should pay us for its defense, have heightened concern that the U.S., Taiwans strongest military partner, might decide not to get too involved if China were ever to attack Taiwan.The 32% tariffs on Taiwan included in Trumps sweeping new tariffs on trade partners this month surprised many Taiwanese, who thought that their government had shown itself a true ally to Washington.Look past the rhetoric and look at the action, Ricketts said, repeating a watchword of the Republicans on Trumps statements. After saying he was in no rush to finish trade deals, the president said he thought he could wrap up talks over the next three or four weeks. Ricketts cited the priority that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has placed on helping the Asia-Pacific secure itself against China. That included making the region one of the first he visited in office, Ricketts said.Ricketts said Taiwans leaders already had reached out to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for negotiations, moving quickly in the 90-day pause that Trump announced before the United States starts enforcing the new tariffs on most countries. Lai, Taiwans president, has pledged to increase Taiwans military spending to 3% of its gross domestic product, up from about 2.5%, bringing it up to nearly a fifth of its overall budget. Taiwan also is talking to Americans about partnerships in producing drones, part of taking a lesson from Ukraine in its defense against Russia in emphasizing fleet fighting forces working with portable Stingers, lawmakers said.Taiwans own defense industry is also producing advanced weapons from submarines to small arms and anti-air missiles. Of course, there is the possibility that Xi Jinping would decide that this is the right time for the Chinese Communist Party to take aggressive action, Coons said of the Chinese president.I think its exactly the wrong thing for them to do, Coons said. I think they would find a forceful and united response.___Knickmeyer reported from Washington. ELLEN KNICKMEYER Knickmeyer covers foreign policy and national security for The Associated Press. She is based in Washington, D.C. twitter SIMINA MISTREANU Mistreanu is a Greater China reporter for The Associated Press, based in Taipei, Taiwan. She has reported on China since 2015. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site