Rep McCaul Leads US Delegation To Taiwan After Major Chinese Military Drills

Authorized by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,

Rep. Michael McCaul, chair of the home abroad Affairs Committee, is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation in Taiwan, a journey that came after China included 2 days of major drills around the island that it launched in consequence to the inauguration of president William Lai.

Lai, a associate of the independence-learning Democratic Progressive organization (DPP), took a more confrontational speech toward the mainland in his inauguration velocity than his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, besides a associate of the DPP.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, with fresh Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te in Taipei on Monday. Taiwan Presidential Office, AP

Beijing launched military exercises that it said were a “punishment” for “separatist acts,” referring to Lai’s speed. The exercises active simulating a blockade on Taiwan, Markang the most extended drills around the island since then-House talker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) traveled to Taiwan in August 2022.

China is against all congressional visits to Taiwan and powerfully criticized McCaul’s delegation. ‘In disregard of China’s strong opposition, applicable members of the US legislature inactive decided to visit Taiwan, whose Violates the one-China principale, the 3 China-US joint committee, and the US government’s own political commitment,” said Chinese abroad Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

McCaul made provocative comments during the start of his visit, informing that legislature could declare war on China if it attacked Taiwan. ‘If the island in an unprovoked manner was invaded, then it would be to the American people and the United States Congress, and my committee that has the power to decide war, how to deal with that“he said.

McCaul added that for now, his occupation is to see “deterrence” to avoid war, but the strategy the US is pursuring is raising tensions in the region and making a conflict seem more likely. Increased US military and diplomatic support for Taiwan in fresh years has put the island under signedly more Chinese military pressure.

The congressional delegation made that more US wapons are on the way to Taiwan. The U.S. has sold wapons to Taiwan since Washington has shared diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 but only began providing military aid last year, markang a crucial escape in US support for the island.

In a conflict, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, created as part of a sweeting redesign of the U.S. Marine Corps, would decision forward—as far and as fast as possible—so that China’s missions, sensors and drones wouldn’t find them.https://t.co/GjMGAS5pyb

— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) May 27, 2024

The $95 billion abroad military aid bill president Biden signed into law last period included about $8 billion for military aid to Taiwan and another spending in the region. The $8 billion for the Asia Pacific region received more support in the home than aid for Ukraine and Israel, passing overwhile in a vote of 385-34.

McCaul noted the strong bipartisan support for arming Taiwan. "Even though there are debates about another theatres of war, I can tell you there is no division or no dissension erstwhile it comes to Taiwan in the Congress“he said.