Legislative Yuan Speaker You Si-kun (???), who is currently on a short visit to the United States, on Wednesday sidestepped media questions about whether he will meet with his American counterpart Kevin McCarthy.

Speaking with reporters after delivering a speech at a religious forum in Washington, D.C., You responded to questions on the topic by saying that he has a “very tight schedule” ahead of his departure from the U.S. late Thursday.

On the question of a possible visit by McCarthy to Taipei, as has been reported in the U.S. media, You said it is “normal” for lawmakers and heads of the legislative branches of democratic nations to visit Taiwan for bilateral exchanges.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s de-facto ambassador to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (???), who was seen leaving McCarthy’s office the same day, also declined to say directly whether a meeting between the U.S. House Speaker and You was on the latter’s agenda during his current U.S. visit.

Hsiao, who also attended the religious forum, said only that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the U.S., which she heads, will do its best to provide opportunities for You to “exchange views with friends on the U.S. side.”

She later confirmed that she had visited McCarthy’s office earlier in the day but said she did not meet with him in person or have any discussions with his staff about his reported plans to visit Taiwan this year.

American media reports in January cited U.S. government officials as saying that House Speaker McCarthy of the Republican Party was planning to visit Taiwan in spring.

McCarthy, who was elected in a long drawn-out vote late last month to lead the House of Representatives, had pledged to visit Taiwan if he attained that position.

His predecessor Nancy Pelosi made a brief visit to Taipei last August, which prompted days of military drills by the China’s People’s Liberation Army near Taiwan.

Following the media reports last month of McCarthy’s planned trip to Taiwan, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning (??) issued a call for the U.S. House speaker to refrain from activities that would “affect China-U.S.- relations” and “compromise peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

In response, McCarthy said in a tweet “I don’t think China can tell me where I can go at any time, at any place.”

On Wednesday, You of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, also weighed in on Beijing’s warning against a Taiwan visit by McCarthy, saying “the Chinese Communist Party has overreacted” over the matter.

During his speech at the religious forum, You underscored the importance of defending Taiwan’s democracy from Beijing’s encroachment and pointed to the China government’s continued oppression of several religious groups there.

“If Taiwan falls into the sphere of influence of the Chinese Communist Party, then the beacon of democracy will be destroyed,” You said. “It’s very important to safeguard Taiwan, especially its democracy.”

Before wrapping up his U.S. trip late Thursday, You is scheduled to attend the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington earlier in the day and meet with Taiwanese expatriate communities.

In 2020, Taiwan’s then Vice President-elect Lai Ching-te (???) was a guest at the National Prayer Breakfast, a yearly event that is attended by American presidents and administration officials.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel