This comes after Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to the inauguration on Jan. 20, but Xi reportedly declined. The United States does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty from China, following suit with the majority of countries.

“Taiwan-U.S. relations have a long history, and the two sides have made significant progress in recent years,” President Lai Ching-te’s office said. “The government especially congratulates President Trump on his inauguration, and will continue to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations in the future on the basis of the existing good mutual trust and interaction.”

The delegation includes parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang party. Han unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020.

When Lai was inaugurated earlier this year, no members of Congress were in attendance. Instead, former White House economic adviser Brian Deese and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage attended. About a week after the inauguration, a delegation made up of Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Andy Barr (R-KY), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Young Kim (R-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Joe Wilson (R-SC) visited Taiwan.

Taiwan’s sovereignty and ability to hold a democratic election is a hot topic as China claims the island as its own territory. Xi was elected by all but four votes from the National People’s Congress.

The U.S. State Department recently authorized the sale of F-16 fighter components, radars, and other equipment to Taiwan. This was also condemned by China, which promised countermeasures to the sale.

Trump has already welcomed Argentine President Javier Milei and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to his Mar-a-Lago residence several weeks ahead of his inauguration. French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also met with Trump during his trip to Paris last month. 

No foreign leader from any country has attended the U.S. inauguration in nearly 150 years.