Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has said he plans to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Taiwan this spring despite the risk of provoking China.
“I think it’s important to show China that we support Taiwan as a deterrence. I think it’s important to do that,” McCaul said Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
While increasing US support for Taiwan is done in the name of “deterrence,” it has increased Chinese military pressure on the island. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) trip to Taiwan last August provoked the largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, and Beijing has kept up the pressure.
China views congressional visits to Taiwan as an affront to the one-China policy, especially when a high-level lawmaker like the speaker of the house is involved. But the increased tensions as a result of Pelosi’s trip has not deterred her successor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who also plans to make the trek to Taipei.
A source told Bloomberg that McCaul’s visit will likely take place during the congressional recess in April. McCarthy’s trip will come after that, either later this year or sometime in 2024. McCaul said he plans to join the House speaker whenever he decides to go.
China has urged McCarthy not to visit Taiwan as Pelosi did. “I don’t think China can tell me where I can go, at any time, at any place,” McCarthy said in response.
Despite the fact that President Biden has been incredibly hawkish toward China, McCarthy and other Republicans are pushing the administration to be tougher and established a China committee to focus on issues related to Beijing.
“I think it’s important to show China that we support Taiwan as a deterrence. …” where have we heard that line before?