On Monday, the chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, stated during his visit to Taiwan that the United States will accelerate weapon deliveries to Taiwan to enhance deterrence against Chinese Communist Party’s aggression. McCaul, leading a bipartisan delegation, met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, the United States remains Taiwan’s most crucial international supporter and arms supplier. According to the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is obligated to ensure Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. Due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, there have been delays in weapon deliveries to Taiwan, such as for the Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
McCaul emphasized that China’s military exercises last week sent a strong signal to the U.S.
“We are advancing these weapon systems (for delivery to Taiwan),” McCaul told reporters after meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen. “I would like to see faster progress, but they are on the way.”
He added that Taiwan needs sufficient weaponry to show Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the risk of invading Taiwan is greater than the potential gains.
“President Tsai and I had a very thoughtful and direct conversation about the threats that the island faces from its northern neighbor, and the threat is real,” he said. “Without deterrence, Xi will have bold and aggressive ambitions.”
McCaul emphasized that the focus of weapons for Taiwan should be on maritime weapons like Harpoon anti-ship missiles to prevent invasion.
McCaul also assured Taiwan that regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan.
“The United States is, and will always be, a reliable partner, and no coercion or intimidation will slow or stop Congress’s routine visits to Taiwan,” he emphasized.
McCaul explained the purpose of his visit to Taiwan on Sunday. He mentioned that as Vladimir Putin launches a war against Ukraine and with conflicts involving Iran-backed proxies like Hamas in Israel ongoing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is “watching closely to see if the U.S. continues to support its partners and friends.”
“Taiwan is a thriving democracy. The U.S. will continue to stand firm with our partners to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her commitment to strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities and showcasing Taiwan’s determination to defend its territory to the world during her meeting with McCaul at the Presidential Office.
Andy Barr, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus, who was part of the delegation, stated during a press conference in Taipei after meeting with Tsai Ing-wen that “there should be no questioning anywhere in the U.S., Taiwan, or the world of the U.S.’s resolve to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.”
This marked the first U.S. congressional delegation visit to Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen assumed the presidency.
Taiwan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, commented on the recent Chinese military exercises, stating that the visit of the U.S. delegation demonstrated a “significant show of unity” at a critical moment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Ning expressed strong opposition to McCaul’s delegation visiting Taiwan, stating that China has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. Ma criticized McCaul’s commitment to expedite weapon deliveries to Taiwan, urging U.S. lawmakers to stop playing the “Taiwan card” and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Last year, after McCaul visited Taiwan and met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen, Beijing imposed sanctions on him.
Over the past four years, China has increased pressure on Taiwan, with nearly daily military activities near Taiwan.
On Monday morning, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that from early Sunday to early Monday, they had detected 21 Chinese military aircraft and 11 Chinese ships conducting activities near Taiwan.
Later on Monday, China announced military exercises near the Wenzhou area in Zhejiang Province, west of Nanji Island and north of Taiwan.
(Adapted from reports by Reuters and the Associated Press.)