Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) referred to Taiwan as a "country" in a passing comment during a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Friday.
Why it matters: Blackburn's comment that she remembers her 2008 visit to Taiwan fondly "and the opportunity to get to see some of your country firsthand" is likely to further anger Beijing, which has warned of consequences for the U.S. if American officials continue to visit the island it sees as a breakaway province.
