Taipei — The head of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said Friday he was determined the United States and Taiwan remain "the best of friends," calling the democratic island claimed by China a "free country," as he visited with another American lawmaker.

Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday for a two-day visit, as President Trump seeks to strike a trade deal with China — which insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it .

China's Foreign Ministry reiterated its long-time stance in a statement issued Friday as the American senators arrived in Taipei, saying it firmly opposed any official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan.

"We come here from the United States bringing a message from the Congres

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