U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Hosts Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Show of Support for Self-Ruled Island Despite Chinese Threats.

On Wednesday, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in a show of support for the self-ruled island. The meeting was attended by a bi-partisan delegation of more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers. China, which claims Taiwan as its own, responded with threats of reprisals.

The congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan on Thursday, furthering China’s criticism of the meeting. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the visit was meant to send a signal to the Chinese Communist Party that the United States supports Taiwan and will not allow it to be invaded.

The U.S.-China relationship has been strained in recent months, with U.S. support for Taiwan becoming one of the main points of contention between the two powers. The meeting between McCarthy and Tsai is seen as a sign of the U.S.’s commitment to the island.

Taiwan has been self-ruled since 1949, when the Chinese Nationalist government fled to the island after being defeated by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War. China has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, but the island has maintained its independence. The U.S. has been a key ally of Taiwan since the 1970s, when it switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.

The meeting between McCarthy and Tsai is a sign of the U.S.’s commitment to Taiwan and its continued support for the island’s independence. China has responded with threats of reprisals, but the U.S. has made it clear that it will not back down in its support for Taiwan.