Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in southern California on Wednesday, becoming the most senior US elected official to meet a Taiwanese leader on American soil since 1979.

McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Tsai briefly shook hands after her SUV pulled up to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles.

In the parking lot, small groups of demonstrators waved signs, both in support of Taiwan and of China’s claim to the island.

Inside, Tsai was greeted by members of Congress at a long table lined with bouquets. Among those in attendance were Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), the chairman and ranking member of the Select Committee on China and Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee that handles tax policy important to Taiwan

McCarthy went ahead with the sitdown despite threats of retaliation from China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its own territory. Washington’s current “One China” policy acknowledges Beijing’s claim, but does not endorse it.

“The friendship between America and the people of Taiwan has never been stronger,” McCarthy tweeted after the meeting began. “It is my honor to welcome President @iingwen to the @Reagan_Library.”

Tsai responded: “Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy for the warm welcome. It’s a pleasure to be back at the @Reagan_Library & enjoying the #California sunshine as we work to strengthen the bond between #Taiwan & the #US.”

McCarthy said at a press conference following the meeting that Reagan’s “values have always served as the bedrock of our friendship with the people of Taiwan.”

“Here at his library, there are countless exhibits that capture President Reagan’s patriotic spirit, his belief in democracy and commitment to the ideas of peace and freedom,” the House GOP leader said. “And they are more important now than ever before.”

“The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world — and it is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace and regional stability,” McCarthy added.

“We will honor our obligations and reiterate our commitment to our shared values behind which all Americans are united.”

When asked by a reporter if he fears the meeting will escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing, McCarthy responded, “No, it is not our intention to escalate. We want to continue to build and foster democracy and freedom and there should be no fear.”

McCarthy later said, “there’s no need for retaliation” from China while warning the Communist power that it won’t be successful at limiting who he engages with as House speaker.  

“I am the Speaker of the House. There is no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or who I can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend. I’m not the general manager of the Houston Rockets,” he said, referencing NBA executive Daryl Morey, who in 2019 tweeted his support for protesters in Hong Kong but then deleted the posts after facing backlash from Beijing. 

Tsai also invoked the 40th president when thanking members of Congress for supporting Taiwan in their struggle to maintain independence, saying that “to preserve peace, we must be strong.”

“I would like to add that we are stronger when we are together,” said Tsai as she stood next to McCarthy in front of Reagan’s Air Force One.

Wednesday’s meeting is the second time in eight months Tsai has met with a speaker of the House after McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited the island in August. The Chinese responded to that trip by launching their largest live-fire drills in decades, including firing a missile over the island.

Pelosi directed a rare bit of praise toward McCarthy on Wednesday after his meeting with Tsai, issuing a statement commending the summit.

“Today’s meeting between President Tsai of Taiwan and Speaker McCarthy is to be commended for its leadership, its bipartisan participation and its distinguished and historic venue,” the statement from Pelosi read.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the No. 3 House Democrat, also praised McCarthy on Wednesday, thanking him for facilitating the meeting with Tsai and applauding his emphasis on bipartisanship.   

“Speaker McCarthy, on behalf of this bipartisan delegation assembled behind us, I want to thank you for facilitating this meeting and for fostering this bipartisan engagement in matters of foreign policy,” Aguilar said at the press conference. 

“As the speaker mentioned, it’s important for us to set aside partisanship and work together to promote our common interests and the interests of the free world,” he added.

Aguilar noted that he doesn’t “see conflict” between the US and China on the horizon and welcomes competition from the People’s Republic. 

“I told President Tsai that the House Democrats will never abandon this relationship and will work hand in glove with the bipartisan with the Biden administration to affirm our commitment, because we understand the unique role and vital role that Taiwan plays in the region. We welcome competition with the People’s Republic of China. But do not see conflict,” he said. 

There was no immediate reaction from China on Wednesday, a holiday there.

However, Chinese vessels started a joint patrol and inspection operation in the central and northern waters of the Taiwan Strait, state media announced Wednesday morning.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday evening it had also tracked the Chinese Army’s Shandong aircraft carrier passing through the Bashi Strait, to Taiwan’s southeast.

“There’s no reason for the Chinese to overreact in any way,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday. “We’ll watch this as closely as we can.”

China’s “deliberate action has jeopardized regional stability and caused tension in Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan’s defense ministry said. “However, external pressures will not hinder our determination to move toward the world & defend our country.”

After the meeting, McCarthy told reporters that there were at least three actions that must take place to “further our bonds” with Taiwan.

“First, we must continue the arms sales to Taiwan and make sure such sales reach Taiwan on a very timely basis. Second, we must strengthen our economic cooperation, particularly with trade and technology. Third, we must continue to promote our shared values on the world stage,” he said.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war and have no official relations, although they are linked by billions of dollars in trade and investment. 

When President Jimmy Carter formally established diplomatic relations with the Beijing government in 1979, Congress responded by writing into law that the US would nonetheless retain close ties with Taiwan.

Since then, Taiwanese officials in the United States – and Taiwanese presidents on a succession of visits – aim for a delicate balance of maintaining warm relations with their powerful American allies, without overstepping their in-between status or unnecessarily provoking China.

To that end, no Taiwanese flag flies over the former Taiwan Embassy in Washington. Taiwanese presidents call their stops in the US “transits” rather than visits and avoid Washington on their itineraries as well as any public meetings between their top-level officials and those of the US.

With Post wires