U.S. lawmakers to visit China in first trip since 2019

A bipartisan group of U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers will travel to China later this month, marking the first congressional delegation visit since 2019, according to NBC News.

The trip, known as a congressional delegation (CODEL), is being organised by Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and its current top Democrat.

“I think it’s fairly significant. It’s part of wanting to try to open up a dialogue between the U.S. and China. And I personally think it’s important that you do that,” Smith told NBC.

The delegation will include Democratic and Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee, although Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, will not participate.

Smith said the group has requested a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but no confirmation has been received. The itinerary will also include a stop in Cambodia, but not Taiwan, and the visit is expected to take place during the House recess the week of 22 September.

The trip comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, following a military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square attended by the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea.

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