On Sept. 15, Japanese lawmakers and members of the U.S. Congress emphasized Taiwan’s importance to regional security during meetings in Washington, while a senior U.S. senator separately called for continued deterrence and faster delivery of weapons already promised to Taipei.

The discussions came ahead of a scheduled Sept. 24 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, when Taiwan is expected to be among the major issues facing the two governments.

Japanese House of Councillors members Hirofumi Takinami, Kazuhiro Miyamoto and Daichi Suzuki met with U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Ami Bera in Washington on Sept. 15 for talks focused on Taiwan, East Asian security and cooperation between the United States and Japan.

According to the Taipei Times, the lawmakers rejected the idea that the United States should limit its defensive perimeter to the Second Island Chain during a regional conflict and instead stressed the importance of defending the First Island Chain, which includes Taiwan.

“We were able to share the understanding that a crisis involving Taiwan is indeed a crisis for Japan and a crisis for the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Takinami said following the meeting.

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The talks also addressed Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and its importance to the economic and national security of both Japan and the United States. Takinami said the lawmakers viewed economic security and national security as closely connected.

Bera, co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, said the two legislatures could play a direct role in reinforcing regional stability.

“There remains strong bipartisan support in Congress for maintaining peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and supporting our democratic partner Taiwan,” Bera said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Bera said cooperation between Congress and Japan’s Diet could help deter conflict, uphold the rules-based international order and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Ricketts calls for deterrence and faster arms deliveries

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, addressed Taiwan separately during a Sept. 15 discussion at the Hudson Institute on U.S.-China competition.

Asked by reporters about the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, Ricketts said Washington should make clear that its opposition to changing Taiwan’s status through force remains unchanged.

“We are not going to tolerate a change in the status of Taiwan by force,” Ricketts said, according to the Central News Agency.

Ricketts also urged Taiwan to continue strengthening its deterrence capabilities through defense investment and reforms to its military reserve system. At the same time, he said Washington should concentrate on fulfilling weapons sales that have already been approved.

The United States is about $30 billion behind in arms deliveries to Taiwan, Ricketts said. Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December 2025, while another proposed $14 billion package remains under review.

“That’s the best thing we can do for the Taiwanese,” Ricketts said of delivering weapons already promised to Taipei.

Original article