WASHINGTON – In an effort to strengthen U.S. alliances crucial for countering China’s influence in Asia, a bipartisan team of four U.S. senators is preparing for visits to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea in the coming days.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced the upcoming trip on Saturday. She will be accompanied by Senators John Curtis from Utah, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Jacky Rosen from Nevada. Their itinerary includes stops in Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing in May for a postponed summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The delegation’s visit to Taiwan is likely to attract attention from China, which views such interactions as a threat to its territorial claims over the island. Taiwan values the support of the United States for its democratic governance, yet Trump’s recent actions, such as discussing potential arms sales to Taiwan with Xi, have sparked debates over the future trajectory of U.S. policy.

Experts in both China and the U.S. suggest that during the summit, Xi will aim to persuade Trump to adopt a more lenient approach regarding Taiwan.

“This bipartisan delegation signifies Congress’ steadfast commitment to these alliances and partnerships, ensuring their continuity beyond any single administration,” Shaheen stated.

To reassure their Asian counterparts, the senators plan to engage with political leaders and defense officials during their visit.

“Our alliance with Taiwan is one of the most strategically and morally significant partnerships America has in the Indo-Pacific,” Curtis said.

It remains to be seen how Trump’s intervention in Venezuela, Iran and elsewhere could influence other powers such as China and Russia. But there is some concern among lawmakers that the Republican president’s actions could be seen as giving those countries an opening for their own foreign moves.

The economic relationship with Taiwan has also come under scrutiny from the Trump administration. The U.S. is reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips, which contributed to a trade imbalance of nearly $127 billion during the first 11 months of 2025.

The Trump administration reached a deal with Taiwan in February that removed 99% of its trade barriers.

During another visit by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers last year, they emphasized that the U.S. would continue to partner closely with Taiwan.

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Associated Press writer Didi Tang contributed to this report.