US House leader Taiwan president meet as China protests

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy welcomed Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen for a historic meeting on U.S. soil Wednesday, in a politically sensitive session underscoring U.S. lawmakers’ growing support for her self-ruled island as tensions rise with rival China. McCarthy and Tsai briefly shook hands when her SUV pulled up to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library under the Southern California sun. Giant wooden doors closed behind them as they walked inside for what were to be several hours of meetings with Democratic and Republican members of Congress, cameras transmitting the show of high-level partnership to China and…