News about Alan Lowenthal

When visiting Taiwan on Friday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn maintained that Taiwan is its own "country." In a meeting with Tai President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, the Tennessee Republican first referred to Taiwan as a 'country.' In 2008, Blackburn recalled her first trip to Taiwan, where she had 'the opportunity to see some of your country firsthand.' On call with reporters, Blackburn, a member of the Armed Services Committee, was asked if her remarks were contrary to official US policy. 'I feel like Taiwan is a nation.' If Taiwan was not a country why would China be talking about reunification?' The Tennessee Republican asked defiantly.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn landed in Taipei, Taiwan, on board a US military aircraft, marking the fourth visit by a US lawmaker to the island nation in a matter of weeks. The step is likely to anger Beijing, who sees visits from US officials as confirmation of Taiwan's independence. Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican who serves on the Senate's Commerce and Armed Services Committees, was one of a number of Republican senators who supported House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial Taiwan tour last month.