KARAH RUCKER: THE U.S. AND TAIWAN ARE DISPLAYING A STRONG FRONT IN THE FACE OF CHINESE THREATS. TAIWANESE PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN IS VISITING THE U.S.  – MEETING WITH HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY DESPITE THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY PROMISING RETALIATIONS IF THE TWO MEET.

TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT IS WRAPPING UP A TRIP TO CENTRAL AMERICA – AFTER FIRST STOPPING  IN THE U.S.

WE’RE NOW LEARNING SHE ALREADY QUIETLY MET WITH SEVERAL U.S. SENATORS FROM BOTH PARTIES IN HER INITIAL STOPOVER LAST WEEK.

IN A MEETING WITH SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN OF ALASKA  – THE TWO DISCUSSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPOSE SWIFT SANCTIONS ON CHINA IF THE COUNTRY WERE TO INVADE TAIWAN.

SHARED SECURITY, ECONOMIC PRIORITIES, AND ENHANCED MILITARY TRAINING  WERE PART OF THOSE INITIAL, QUIET CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATORS.

NOW MS. TSAI IS SET TO SIT DOWN WITH MCCARTHY AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS IN CALIFORNIA IN THE LAST LEG OF HER TRIP.

BOTH PARTIES HAVE BRUSHED ASIDE THREATS FROM CHINA OVER THEIR MEETING.

MCCARTHY IS EXPECTED TO TEST TAIWAN’S BACKBONE – TO SEE HOW FAR THE SMALL TERRITORY IS WILLING TO GO TO DEFEND ITS SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FACE OF CHINA’S REUNIFICATION PLAN.