'Not going to be bullied': US lawmaker reacts to China's warning against Taiwan visit

After China threatened five US lawmakers against travelling to Taiwan over Thanksgiving holiday, one of lawmakers on delegation Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin said that visit was crucial to resolve semiconductor shortage, ding that US will “not be threatened by China.” bipartisan trip led by or four lawmakers on US House Veterans Affairs Committee – chair Mark Takano of California, Colin Allred of Texas, Sara Jacobs of California and Nancy Mace of South Carolina was backed by US State Department and Department of Defence, according to multiple reports. US delegation me stops in Japan and Korea to meet US troops and leers to discuss a host of economic and national security issues before arriving in Taiwan. 

But one of US lawmakers on delegation now claims that she has received “blunt message” from Chinese embassy questioning Taiwan visit. “I’m not going to be bullied,” Slotkin said on Twitter, ding that visit underscored need for a comprehensive plan to counter Chinese belligerence on Taiwan.

“When news of our trip broke yesterday, my office received a blunt message from Chinese Embassy, telling me to call off trip,” Rep Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., wrote on Twitter. " auto industry’s largest supplier of microchips is here in Taiwan, so supply chain issues will most definitely be on agenda,” she went on to d. 

US representative's 'Republic of Taiwan' tweet 'intentional'

Anor representative on delegation that visited Taiwan last week to meet with Taiwanese government officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen, said that Chinese government-registered strong objection to visit, according to reports.  Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) at time of arrival intentionally used term “Republic of Taiwan” as she tweeted: “Just touched down in Republic of Taiwan,” followed by emoji of American flag and emoji of Taiwanese flag. Mace told CNN that her tweet was “100%” intentional, indicating that US would not succumb to belligerence of China. 

“We appreciate what [ Taiwanese people are] doing,” Mace, one of member on US delegation that visited Taiwan said in televised statement to CNN. “y are important to our economy and economies around world, and we want to make sure that ir democracy and freedoms are protected,” she ded.

According to a letter dispatched to US delegation by Chinese embassy, which representative Rep Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., shared separately with NBC News, China “strongly urged” that US Congresswoman “immediately cancel planned visit to Taiwan.” embassy also asserted “not to support and embolden separatist forces of ‘Taiwan independence,’ lest it cause huge damage to China-US relations and peace and stability of Taiwan Straits,” letter re. 

"US Congress once again organized a delegation to visit, demonstrating unanimous and firm support of two houses and parties of U.S. Congress for Taiwan-US relations," meanwhile Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs stated in a press release.  

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., consisting of four Democrats and one Republican, visited Taiwan earlier last month to meet with senior leers and to reaffirm to "ir friends and allies" US' commitment and shared responsibility for a free and secure Indo-Pacific region. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen greeted US lawmakers at Presidential Office in Taipei, highlighting two countries' collaboration in economic concerns, and tre while underlining Taiwan's close ties with United States, AP reported citing American Institute in Taiwan.