WASHINGTON, 27 November 2021, (TON): Five US lawmakers met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen Friday morning in a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm the United States’ rock solid support for the self-governing island.

The bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the US House of Representatives arrived in Taiwan on Thursday night and were planning to meet with senior leaders including Tsai, said the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy.

No further details were provided about their itinerary.

The visit comes as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades. Taiwan has been self-ruled since the two sides split during a civil war in 1949, but China considers the island part of its own territory.

Representative Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, who is part of the delegation, wrote on Twitter “when news of our trip broke yesterday, my office received a blunt message from the Chinese Embassy, telling me to call off the trip.”

Representatives Mark Takano, D-Calif., Colin Allred, D-Texas., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., are also part of the visiting delegation.

Takano said “we are here in Taiwan this week to remind our partners and allies, after two trying years that we’ve endured, that our commitment and shared responsibility for a free and secure Indo-Pacific region remain stronger than ever.”

Takano added that the US relationship with Taiwan is “rock solid and has remained steadfast as the ties between us have deepened.”