Mon, May 26, 2025 page2

• US representative urges faster arms delivery

  ‘PARTNERSHIP’: Most Americans are not familiar with Taiwan, but they should be, because the future of the US’ prosperity is tied to it, Raja Krishnamoorthi said

  • By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
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  The US must stand with Taiwan to deter a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, and should expedite arms deliveries to Taiwan and strengthen the nation’s food and energy reserves, US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote in an opinion piece published by US magazine Newsweek on Thursday last week.

  The opinion piece by Krishnamoorthi, who serves as a ranking member of the US House of Representatives Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is titled: “To Safeguard America’s Future, We Need To Safeguard Taiwan’s.”

  Krishnamoorthi said most Americans are not familiar with Taiwan, but they should be, because the future of the US’ prosperity, security and democratic values is deeply tied to the future of Taiwan.

  

  US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington on Aug. 10, 2022.

  Photo: Bloomberg

  There is a stark contrast between Taiwan — a vibrant and free democracy governed by the will of the people — and the People’s Republic of China, with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) wielding supreme power over all matters of state, he said.

  “But Taiwan is more than just a beacon of freedom — it’s one of America’s most important economic partners,” he said, adding that Taiwan is the US’ seventh-largest trading partner and a critical customer for US farmers.

  On a per capita basis, Taiwan buys 47 times more wheat than China does, he said.

  Taiwanese companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) are investing billions of dollars to build advanced semiconductor fabs in the US, helping to secure its tech and creating jobs, he added.

  “This is not charity. It’s a strategic partnership,” Krishnamoorthi said.

  “Taiwan supports American jobs. Taiwanese investment strengthens our supply chains. And Taiwan’s democracy serves as a counterweight to the rising authoritarianism of the” CCP, he said.

  However, the partnership is under threat, as Xi ordered the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, he said, adding that its warplanes intruded Taiwan’s airspace more than 3,000 times last year, and its military drills simulated a blockade and missile strikes.

  Any conflict over Taiwan is “incredibly dangerous,” and a war could “wipe US$10 trillion off global GDP and plunge the US into a deep depression,” he said.

  “So what do we do? We must stand with Taiwan. Not to provoke conflict, but to deter it,” he said. “Peace across the Taiwan Strait is not just a regional concern; it’s an American interest.”

  Krishnamoorthi said former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell “reminded us that Taiwan is not just important — it’s indispensable.”

  “Taiwan produces more than 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, supports American farmers, and acts as an international example of freedom and democracy,” he quoted Campbell as saying.

  Taiwan’s fate is being closely watched by the US’ allies, he cited Campbell saying, adding that if authoritarianism triumphs, it could embolden aggression elsewhere, so “supporting Taiwan is not just good policy — it’s a global credibility test for the US.”

  The military balance between Taiwan and the CCP has changed, with the PLA having a force that vastly outnumbers Taiwan’s and continued rehearsals of amphibious invasions, missile strikes and blockades, Krishnamoorthi said.

  However, Taiwan still has advantages of geography, a strong civil society and most importantly deepening ties with the US and its allies, he said.

  “That’s why we need to act now.” he said. “The US should expedite arms deliveries to Taiwan, especially asymmetric defenses like sea mines, anti-ship missiles and drones.”

  The US should also strengthen “Taiwan’s food and energy reserves, boost military and disaster relief training programs, and deepen economic ties — especially in agriculture, energy and tech,” he said.

  “In a world growing more dangerous by the day, Taiwan remains one of our best friends. It’s time we treated it that way,” he said.

  Krishnamoorthi on May 15 introduced a bipartisan bill that would make the “six assurances” — a long-standing US foreign policy governing relations with Taiwan — official US law, saying that the bill “sends a clear, bipartisan message: We will stand firm against coercion, support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
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