The Democrat expected to become US House speaker has met Taiwan’s former leader and backed legislation supporting the island yet is unlikely to follow Nancy Pelosi’s example in pursuing high-profile engagement with Taipei, analysts said.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House’s top-ranking Democrat, announced his bid for the speakership on Wednesday after Democrats won a majority of seats in the US midterm elections. He is poised to officially become House speaker following a floor vote on the first day of the new Congress in January.
In March 2023, Jeffries met then-Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen in New York during her transit through the United States. He described their discussion at the time as “very productive”, covering mutual security and economic interests, alongside a shared commitment to democracy and freedom.