Han Kuo-yu's US visit receives higher reception due to arms support, legislator claims

Taiwan's Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation on a visit to Washington D.C., receiving a reception described as significantly more high-profile than previous visits by other Taiwanese politicians. The delegation participated in a U.S. Congressional reception where they met with 7 Democratic senators and 33 representatives, including a personal appearance by former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Compared to the wrong route of KMT Chairwoman Chiang Wan-an, Han Kuo-yu received U.S. trust and goodwill because he supported the arms purchase case back then, and the specifications were several times higher than Chiang Wan-an's visit to the United States.

DPP legislator Lin Chu-yin highlighted the warm reception, attributing it to Han's past support for arms purchases. She contrasted this with a previous visit by KMT Chairwoman Chiang Wan-an, suggesting that Han's pro-arms stance has earned him trust and goodwill from the U.S. Lin noted that Han's schedule alone on one day included meetings with 40 senators and representatives, a stark difference from Chiang's efforts to secure meetings.

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Han Kuo-yu should also be able to feel that the United States is giving him preferential treatment in its itinerary because he is the speaker of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China, Taiwan.

Lin further pointed out the historical significance of Han's return flight, as he is scheduled to take the first direct flight from Washington D.C. to Taiwan. She stated that the U.S. is using this occasion to signal its support for Taiwan as an important ally, emphasizing their commitment to Taiwan's defense rather than to specific political figures.

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Han Kuo-yu's schedule for just one day has already met with 40 senators and representatives, which is more than 4 times what Chiang Wan-an managed to squeeze out with great difficulty during her visit to the United States.

The legislator implied that the U.S. is sending a message to the KMT and the Taiwanese public about the importance of supporting arms procurement for national security. The contrast in reception between Han and Chiang underscores the U.S. administration's priorities in its engagement with Taiwanese political leaders.

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The U.S. is using this method to tell the KMT and the Taiwanese people that Taiwan is an important ally, and they choose to support Taiwan, not a specific person from Taiwan.