A visit by a pair of U.S. senators to Taiwan has drawn criticism from China, which claims the island as its own and objects to any contact between officials of the two sides.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday for a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders.

Following a meeting with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Fischer said the people of Taiwan had "earned their place as a respected and an indispensable part of our global economy,” calling out China for their continuing efforts, "to threaten, to pressure, and attempt to isolate Taiwan."

“The United States recognizes the weight of Taiwan’s challenges," she said.

Wicker referred to an "axis of aggression" that includes China, Russia, North Korean and Iran that "threatens the freedom of many people around the world."

"They’re working together as never before to challenge those democracies, such as the United States and Taiwan, and others, who believe in freedom and elections that matter and self-determination,” he added.

During their visit, the lawmaker duo are set to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as Washington’s de facto embassy in lieu of formal diplomatic relations with the self-governing island democracy.

The pair embarked on a trip to the Indo-Pacific region last Friday as part of efforts to strengthen U.S. national security interests.

They have also made stops in Hawaii, Guam, Tinian, Palau, and the Philippines.

AP video shot by Taijing Wu