In Taiwan, Sen. Duckworth pitches Illinois business; pledges security support as China threat looms

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., left, meets with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. On a visit to Taiwan, Duckworth reiterated support for the island amid rising Chinese threats. (AP photo)

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tammy Duckworth is in Taiwan and South Korea this week to strengthen economic ties with Illinois while the Chinese government is blasting her visit to Taiwan as it steps up its threats against the island it claims.

This is Duckworth’s second visit to Taiwan in a year — she was there last June to announce that the U.S. was shipping 750,000 COVID vaccines to the island, a trip also condemned by the Chinese.