U.S. lawmakers who visited Japanese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together Saturday morning. The six members of Congress met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for breakfast, agreeing with him on the importance of maintaining a “free and open Indo-Pacific region,” according to the foreign ministry. The visit by the six lawmakers – led by South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham – comes as global tensions escalate. CHINA CARRIES OUT MILITARY EXERCISES AS US LEGISLATIVE GROUP VISITS TAIWAN The delegation includes Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Ronny Jackson of Texas. On Friday, the bipartisan group met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ying-wen, where they expressed support for self-governing island democracy. In this photo released by the Taiwanese Presidential Office, members of a U.S. congressional delegation from left, Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, the senator. Richard Burr, RN.C., Senator Bob Menendez, DN.J. and Sen. Lindsey Graham, RSC, pose for a photo with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, center-right, and other Taiwanese officials during a meeting at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, April 15, 2022. (Presidential Office Taiwan via AP) The move sparked outrage from China and the nation staged military exercises near Taiwan in protest. China opposes any formal exchanges between the Taiwanese government and other foreign governments because it claims that Taiwan is part of its national territory and not an independent country. China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zao Lijian committed that China will “continue to take strong steps to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” In addition, North Korea tested intercontinental ballistic missiles in March, prompting the United States to impose sanctions on five North Korean entities and Japan to impose its own sanctions. JAPAN, US CONDUCT NAVAL EXERCISES OUTSIDE KOREA WITHOUT NUCLEAR TESTING North Korea has also said it is ready to use its nuclear capabilities South Koreain the event that his neighbor launches a “pre-emptive strike”, following statements by a senior South Korean official. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and a prominent figure in her government, said South Korea was not their “main enemy,” according to North Korea’s KCNA Watch news agency. The Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at the official residence of the Prime Minister on April 8, 2022, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin / Zuma Press) This month, US and Japanese warships are conducting joint naval exercises in the waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula for the first time in five years. Concerns among conservative politicians in Tokyo have grown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While Japan does not recognize Taiwan, they maintain friendly relations. The country’s pacifist constitution, adopted after its defeat in World War II, prohibits the use of force in international disputes. Kishida told lawmakers that the bilateral alliance had replaced political party divisions, and the ministry said Tokyo had sought US support for Japan’s ongoing efforts to repatriate Japanese who had been abducted by North Korea decades ago. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION North Korea returned some of those abducted in 2004. Fox News’ Lawrence Richard and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
