Taipei: A delegation led by opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang on Sunday departed for a brief visit to Washington, D.C., with plans to meet U.S. government officials to discuss arms procurement and tariffs. The primary aim of the trip is to address issues concerning “arms procurement and high tariffs,” Huang stated to reporters at Taoyuan International Airport before boarding his flight.

According to Focus Taiwan, Huang emphasized that the delegation seeks “frank and sincere discussions” and aims to gather “direct and reliable” information from the U.S. while representing the shared concerns of the Taiwanese public. Huang, who leads the third-largest party in Taiwan’s Legislature, expressed the delegation’s intent to engage in meaningful dialogue on these significant issues.

Huang refrained from specifying the agencies and officials the delegation would engage with, citing “mutual trust and understanding” with the U.S. side as the reason for withholding such details. The unexpected nature of the trip caught many off guard, as it was only announced during a press briefing on Sunday afternoon. However, Huang clarified that the visit had been in the works for “quite some time” following discussions with U.S. counterparts.

The delegation’s visit is set to conclude on Monday afternoon (local time) after a “full day of meetings with government agencies.” Upon their return on Wednesday morning (Taipei time), the TPP plans to hold a news conference to inform the public about the outcomes of the trip. When questioned whether the visit was prompted by an invitation from Washington or initiated by the TPP, Huang did not provide a direct answer but mentioned the party’s expressed desire for “direct, face-to-face communication.”

Regarding the potential impact of the visit on the TPP’s future voting decisions on arms procurement, Huang suggested that the issue “might not be as simple as you suggest.” He emphasized the TPP’s “inescapable responsibility” to assist the administration in making decisions that align with Taiwan’s best interests and those of its people.