A bipartisan delegation of American lawmakers in Taiwan has affirmed its ongoing support to the defence of the island democracy.
This comes with the inauguration of pro-sovereignty president Lai Ching-te, and after extensive Chinese naval manoeuvres undertaken with the apparent intention of signalling the latter country’s resolve to retake what it regards a piece of its own territory.
One of the delegates, Republican Michael McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, referred to the drills as an ‘intimidation tactic to punish democracy’. He added that the US would accelerate the delivery of weapons systems to Taiwan.
‘We are moving forward on those weapons systems. I’d like to see them faster, but they are forthcoming,’ he remarked.
He added that his engagement with President Lai was ‘very sobering and yet very direct’, concerning the threats to Taiwan.
McCaul emphasised the need for effective deterrence. ‘Without deterrence, Chairman Xi has bold and aggressive ambitions, and we just need to do everything we can to make it possible for him to see that the risk outweighs the reward, that the risk is too high. I do think the deterrence we will provide, and we’re providing by our presence here today, will help prevent that.’
Support for Taiwan is a matter on which there is considerable cross-party support in the US, despite an atmosphere of intense polarisation.