Graham a ‘true friend of Taiwan,’ Lai says of late US senator

Staff writer, with CNA President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday expressed his condolences over the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, calling the South Carolina lawmaker “a true friend of Taiwan” and an unwavering defender of freedom. Graham, a longtime senator and close political ally of US President Donald Trump, died on Saturday night at the age of 71 after “a brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement. His death came hours after he returned to the US from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. US Senator Lindsey Graham is pictured during a Senate Committee in Capitol Hill on April 16, 2026 in Washington. Photo: Getty Images via AFP “Deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Senator @LindseyGrahamSC,” Lai wrote on X. “A true friend of Taiwan, Senat