Visiting US Representative Michael McCaul yesterday reaffirmed the US’ determination to stand with Taiwan and help the nation defend itself.
McCaul, who chairs the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, yesterday led an eight-person delegation of cross-party US lawmakers on a visit to the main chamber of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, the first House foreign affairs committee chair to do so since the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted 44 years ago.
“This is a powerful testimony to the ever-growing Taiwan-US relationship and holds great significance,” Legislative Speaker You Si-kun told a news conference after the visit.
Photo: CNA
Consisting of Republicans and Democrats, the delegation demonstrates Washington’s “strong support for Taiwan,” McCaul said.
He applauded President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) “clear vision and bravery” to travel to the US, saying that the trip was viewed positively by Americans.
He said he looked forward to meeting her today after her return.
“When we project strength, we get peace. If we project weakness, we invite aggression and war,” he said, adding that the US wants to do “everything in our power” to stand with Taiwan and to project strength to China by delivering arms sales to Taiwan and holding joint training exercises.
The delegation is visiting the nation to demonstrate that “we are friends of Taiwan” and to support a nation with which the US shares the values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, he said.
Asked whether the delegation felt pressure from China prior to their trip, McCaul quoted US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy as saying that “we have every right” to meet with Taiwanese, including government officials.
He urged Beijing to refrain from conducting military drills in the Taiwan Strait, as that would “only make us more determined than ever to stand with Taiwan.”
In addition to military deterrence, economic deterrence is also important, as a significant number of nations are reassessing their relationships with authoritarian countries such as China, US Representative French Hill said.
The delegation visited Japan and South Korea before flying to Taiwan, aiming to show a unified stance to China that “we will be here to defend and support” the values that Taiwan and the US jointly hold dear, said US Representative Young Kim, who chairs the House Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.
Having conversations with vibrant democracies such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea is crucial, US Representative Ami Bera said, calling on the nations to stand together to maintain peace in the region.
“Nobody is seeking conflict,” he said, adding that the “status quo” in the past 50 years has been beneficial to the citizens of the region’s democracies, as well as to Americans and Chinese.
McCaul also urged the US to sign a free-trade agreement with Taiwan and eliminate double taxation to encourage Taiwanese businesses to invest in the US, calling it a topic of great concern during his meetings with representatives of Taiwanese industries.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee was pleased to pass the draft Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, which calls for action to support Taiwan’s participation in the IMF, Kim said.
Washington continues to support Taiwan’s participation in other international organizations, she added.
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