A delegation of  US lawmakers led by vocal China hawk Senator Lindsey Graham reached  in Taiwan  for  two-day trip as Beijing threatened “strong measures” in reply on Thursday.

The delegation, which includes Senate International Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, is the latest in a long line of foreign politicians who have visited the island in defiance of Chinese pressure.

On Thursday evening, a US government jet landed in Taipei for discussions, according to Washington’s de facto embassy. “US-Taiwan relations, regional security, and other significant issues of mutual interest”.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the group would meet President Tsai Ing-wen, foreign minister Joseph Wu and defence officials.

China’s Communist Party has never controlled self-ruled Taiwan but it views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

Those threats have become more bellicose under President Xi Jinping, making the security of Taiwan a rare subject of bipartisan support in Washington.

Menendez was among a group of lawmakers who introduced a bill in February to rename Taipei’s de facto embassy in Washington the “Taiwan Representative Office”.

That would be a diplomatic departure from the tradition of using the word “Taipei”.

Beijing baulks at use of the word Taiwan on the international stage and opposes any country having official exchanges with the democratic island.

Lithuania’s recent decision to allow Taiwan to use its own name for a representative office triggered Beijing to launch a trade war against Vilnius that has angered the European Union.

China’s foreign ministry warned the US senators against “going down on the wrong and dangerous path” ahead of their arrival.

“China will continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

A Swedish parliamentary delegation is also currently in Taiwan.

“The purpose of the visit is very clear,” Swedish lawmaker Charlie Weimers told reporters on Thursday.

“It is to send a signal of support from Europe to Taiwan. And to make sure that signal is being heard all across the Taiwan Strait.”

Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo infuriated Beijing when he said the United States should diplomatically recognize Taiwan as “a free and sovereign country” during a visit last month.

China’s saber-rattling has spurred greater diplomatic support for Taipei and prompted visits from Western politicians shaken by Beijing’s more muscular tone.

Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has also heightened fears that China might one day follow through on threats to annex its smaller neighbor.

Like most countries, the US realizes Beijing politically, but it also maintains de facto diplomatic connections with Taipei and is required by a congressional legislation to support Taiwan’s defense.

Both former President Donald Trump and his successor Joe Biden increased US arms sales and diplomatic visits to Taiwan.