Six House Republicans have sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to meet with Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te when he stops in the US next month on his way to and from Paraguay, one of the few countries that has diplomatic relations with Taipei.
Lai is scheduled to visit Paraguay on August 15. According to Taipei Times, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Lai is expected to “transit the United States on both the incoming and outgoing legs” of his trip. Neither the US nor Taiwan have said if Lai will meet with any US officials while visiting the country.
Beijing is opposed to meetings between US and Taiwanese government officials as it views them as a violation of Washington’s one-China policy. When Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen traveled through the US in April, she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the highest-level meeting between US and Taiwan that’s taken place inside the US since 1979, when Washington formally severed diplomatic ties with Taipei.
The Tsai-McCarthy meeting provoked major Chinese military drills around Taiwan, and that would almost certainly be the result of a Harris-Lai meeting. The letter to Harris, which was shared by Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), said Lai’s visit gave her the opportunity to make use of the Taiwan Travel Act, which became law in 2018 and encourages contacts between US and Taiwanese officials.
The Taiwan Travel Act says that it should be US policy to “allow officials at all levels of the United States Government” to travel to Taiwan to meet with their Taiwanese counterparts. It says it should also “allow high-level officials of Taiwan to enter the United States, under conditions which demonstrate appropriate respect for the dignity of such officials, and to meet with officials of the United States.”
The letter notes that Harris supported the Taiwan Travel Act when she was a senator. “Mr. Lai’s transit here in August will provide you with a key opportunity to make use of this law — and do as vice president what you voted for as a lawmaker,” it reads. The letter was signed by Tiffany and five other Republican House members, Reps. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Scott Perry (R-PA), and Scott DesJarlais (R-TN).
China has already warned against Lai visiting the US and said it’s a priority to stop the trip. From Beijing’s perspective, the visit is likely more sensitive because Lai is running for president as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s nominee. Elections are scheduled for January 2024, and Lai has been leading the polls.
“Six House Republicans Urge Kamala Harris to Meet With Taiwan’s Vice President.”
They must really hate Taiwan.
Why they want to make Taiwan a killing field, like Ukraine, is pathetic.
They may be unaware of the damage they end up doing ? If so, they really are showing their stupidity. That, and/or maybe they just don’t care. Their only concern is about catering to their goober constituents’ delusions. All in all, ignorant people elect ignorant Representatives.
seriously doubt any of their constituents back at home care about which political party governs an island halfway around the world. folks are dealing with spiking costs on everything, rent, food, fuel, education, taxes, used cars, everything. and Uncle Sam gonna max out the credit card for more elective foreign war adventurism, nah.
You would think not. But a lot if people who actually vote are being sucked in by the anti China rhetoric, and are responding with a jingoistic attitude. Their representatives are fueling the fire for more aggressive measures that are sure to end up badly for everyone. Regardless of the ones who don’t care. They want to stop funding Ukraine, but for China it’s open season.
The six House RetardiQAns should resign…!
is this really a dilemma or is it just more political theater
“Six House Republicans Urge Kamala Harris to Meet With Taiwan’s Vice President”
Yes perhaps she can come down from her drug induced high to say an intelligent word.
We are not asking our best….
She’s not even qualified to address a PTA meeting.
A good test for Harris. Let’s see what she does. IMO she will of course cave, as would Biden. But if she refuses she will catapult herself into the ranks of leading contender.
Gotta love the title of Caitlin Johnstone’s column today:
“Capitol Hill is an assisted living facility for psychopaths”.
Harris is a waste Taiwan might be thinking? They’ll just land and refuel and go home to Taiwan?
Lest we forget the ugly display behind the Speaker’s chair on the part of Harris and Pelosi as they fawned like teenage girls over their new man crush in his sporty khaki tee shirt and imitation soldier-boy pants…
😂
Sure, let’s poke the tiger and see if he growls. I have to pinch myself to believe I’m awake when I see the US so openly beating its chest. This will all come to a not-good ending.
“Six House Republicans Urge Kamala Harris to Meet With Taiwan’s Vice President”
Perhaps she can share her cocaine with him.