The President spoke of the ongoing relationship between the United States and Taiwan

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has warned “democracy is under threat” as she met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

The highly-anticipated event is a show of solidarity against growing threats from China.

Tsai gathered with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

McCarthy says the ongoing relationship between the two nations is of “profound importance to the free world.”

The landmark meeting is the second time the president has met with an American lawmaker, following Nancy Pelosi’s to the island nation last year.

But, following today’s meeting with McCarthy, Tsai becomes the first president of Taiwan to meet with a sitting House speaker on American soil.

Tsai says she is ‘grateful to have the U.S. by Taiwan’s side.’

China dispatched several maritime vessels near Taiwan’s coast ahead of the meeting.

China’s Consulate General in Los Angeles condemned the anticipated meeting as “not conducive to regional peace, security and stability.”