A delegation led by US House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 25. The following morning, the group visited the Veterans Affairs Council and then met with President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai thanked the group for visiting Taiwan, saying the visit was a display of friendship between the two sides.
A 17-member US congressional delegation including representatives Mark Takano, Elissa Slotkin, Colin Allred, Sara Jacobs, and Nancy Mace arrived in Taiwan on the 25th. The following day, the group met with President Tsai Ing-wen. The entire meeting was livestreamed on the Presidential Office's website.
Tsai Ing-wen, ROC President: “I want to tell everyone that starting next January, our Veterans Affairs Council will send a representative to Washington DC to engage in exchanges on health insurance, medical care, employment services, and long-term care for veterans.”
Tsai talked at length about bilateral cooperation in various areas, including national defense and trade. She also thanked the US for engaging in Trade and Investment Framework Agreement talks with Taiwan after Taiwan lifted its import ban on American pork containing growth and leanness drug Ractopamine. According to Tsai, Taiwan lifting the ban shows its commitment to solving "difficult" trade issues. She also said Taiwan and the US are partners in protecting democratic values and regional stability.
Mark Takano, Chair, US House Veterans' Affairs Committee: “The world has heard you loud and clear. Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping. Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid and has remained steadfast as the ties between us has deepened.”
Takano said he is very happy to continue the tradition of face-to-face bilateral talks and said the US' promises to Taiwan are rock-solid. Slotkin, meanwhile, tweeted after arriving in Taiwan that the Chinese embassy contacted her office to tell her to call off her trip to Taiwan.
The group also visited the Veterans Affairs Council on the 26th to learn about upgrades and reforms to Taiwan's reserve system.
美國眾議院退伍軍人事務委員會主席高野昨日晚間，率領另外四名跨黨派的眾議員史羅金丶歐瑞德丶雅各布斯以及梅斯，一行17人搭乘行政專機抵達台灣進行訪問，今日上午前往總統府晉見總統蔡英文，這次與先前美國議員訪台低調不同，總統府公開直播，感謝議員們在感恩節假期到訪台灣。
蔡英文表示：「我要跟各位訪賓說，從明年一月開始，我們退輔會將會派員常駐華府，可以針對退撫軍人的健康保險、優質醫療就業輔導，以及長照的方面增加更多的交流。」
蔡英文細數台美多領域合作，包含國防方面及經貿方面，特別表示開放美豬進口以來，台美展開的TIFA的對話，展現台灣有決心解決困難的貿易問題，最後強調與美國捍衛共享的民主價值與區域穩定。
高野表示：「全世界都非常清楚地知道，台灣可以幫忙，而且台灣正在幫忙，美國對台灣的承諾，堅若磐石，而且持續穩健深化。」
高野表示很開心能夠延續台美面對面交流的傳統，重申對台承諾堅若磐石，不過抵達台灣之後，代表團成員之一的史羅金在推特發文表示，當代表團出訪的消息曝光後，她的辦公室收到中國駐美國使館的訊息，要求她取消出訪台灣的行程。
今日一早訪團第一個行程，先拜訪退輔會。根據了解，此行主要針對我國後備軍力提升，以及後備軍力改革進行交流。