Then-Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., right, and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., attend the House Select Committee on the CCP roundtable titled "The Space Race Returns," on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
According to the select committee, Gallagher told Tsai that the trip was meant for Democrats and Republicans to show "our bipartisan support for this partnership" and thanked her for "not only being an` incredible leader here in Taiwan, but really distinguishing yourself as a leader within the free world."
"Freedom is under attack from authoritarian aggression. And we need to be more vigilant than ever if we want to pass on this gift of freedom we've been given to the next generation," he said at the time.
Just days ago, Gallagher formally joined the Hudson Institute, an American conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., as a distinguished fellow. During an inaugural event on Monday, Gallagher, the former chairman of the House select committee on the CCP, discussed how China is fueling the fentanyl trade in the U.S. and "underscored the need to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," according to the institute.
Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for offering congratulations to Taiwan's new president. (Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The Chinese office in charge of Taiwan affairs criticized Lai’s inauguration speech as promoting "the fallacy of separatism," inciting confrontation and relying on foreign forces to seek independence.
"We will never tolerate or condone any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities," Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council, said, adding that adversaries "cannot stop the historical trend of the motherland’s eventual reunification."
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Monday also announced sanctions against Boeing and two other defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan.
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Lai, 64, takes over from Tsai, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s escalating military threats. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and has been upping its threats to annex it by force if necessary.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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