Taipei: U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is in Taiwan until Wednesday to meet with senior Taiwanese officials, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said Monday. The ongoing Taiwan trip is part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region, during which the Democratic Party senator will meet senior Taiwan leaders and other counterparts "to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest," the AIT said in a news release. According to Focus Taiwan, Merkley is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. He is known for leading the U.S. Congress' efforts to strengthen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. The AIT emphasized that Merkley's visit underscores the importance of U.S.-Taiwan relations and regional cooperation. The AIT added that Merkley, who arrived in Taiwan on Monday, has also authored landmark legislation to strengthen U.S. policy across the reg ion. His legislative contributions include the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, reflecting his commitment to addressing significant regional issues.