US lawmakers meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen; China conducts military patrols

Five US lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on a surprise one-day visit on Friday. Meanwhile, the Chinese military conducted air and naval readiness patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait.

Five US lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday on a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm America's “rock-solid” support for the self-governing island that is claimed by China.

The visit came as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades. Taiwan has been self-ruled since the two sides split during a civil war in 1949, but China considers the island part of its own territory.