US Senator Marsha Blackburn arrived in Taiwan on Thursday. This is the third visit by a politician from the US this month. The visit of the American dignitaries is causing tension in the area.

The senator will meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday and will also speak with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu during her visit, which ends on Saturday. This includes relations between Taiwan and the United States in the fields of defense and trade, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Blackburn previously said he supported House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in early August. Pelosi expressed her solidarity with Taiwan in Taipei. China responded furiously, then ordered its military to conduct large-scale exercises around Taiwan. About two weeks later a delegation of five Members of Parliament visited the island. Even then, Chinese military exercises continued near Taiwan.

More security investments

Because of the increased tension, the Taiwanese government has decided to spend more money on security. Next year’s budget will rise nearly 14 percent to a record 586.3 billion Taiwan dollars (19.4 billion euros). Parliament has yet to agree. Since 2017, the defense budget has been increased every year.

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China views Taiwan as a renegade province and does not want countries to maintain official relations with it. The government in Taipei says that because Taiwan was never controlled by the Communists in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China cannot claim the island. The Communists established the People’s Republic in 1949 after winning a civil war against the Nationalists. These nationalists formed their own government after fleeing to Taiwan.