In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

President Lai Ching-te has met with members of a visiting U-S congressional
delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei.

It's the first such meeting since Lai inauguration's last Monday.

The visiting six-member delegation is being led Michael McCaul, the chairman
the U-S House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Speaking during the meeting he said the group was appointed by House Speaker
Mike Johnson to convey congratulations to Lai on his inauguration.

McCaul lashed out at Beijing for holding military exercises in response to
Lai's inauguration - saying the "intimidating military exercises"
demonstrate" that China is "not interested in taking Taiwan by peaceful
means."

The U-S lawmaker cited the Taiwan Relations Act and stressed Washington's
support for Taiwan.


McCaul also addressed the current backlog of weapons orders for Taiwan -
saying President Joe Biden has signed grant and Foreign Military Financing
loans to Taiwan worth 4-billion dollars as a sign of support ..

.. and he believes that maritime assets are more important than land-based
ones to prevent Chinese troops from landing in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Lai expressed his gratitude to McCaul, his delegation and the U-S
Congress for their long-term support of Taiwan ..

.... and said his administration will continue to deepen cooperation with the
U-S and other like-minded countries to jointly maintain regional peace,
stability and prosperous development.

And he also said Taiwan will "continue to enhance national defense, showing
the world the determination its people's to defend their home."