In the wake of massive military drills by China in the area surrounding Taiwan, a visiting delegation of US lawmakers has expressed support for Taiwan.
Michael McCaul, chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee who is leading the bipartisan congressional delegation in a meeting with Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te, said that China’s “intimidating military exercises” demonstrated that the mainland is “not interested in taking Taiwan by peaceful means.”
Addressing a news conference in Taipei, US Representative Michael McCaul called the drills an “intimidation tactic to punish democracy” and vowed to bolster Taiwan’s defense by speeding up the delivery of defensive weapons from the US.
He further reiterated Washington’s long-term support for Taiwan, stressing that the US will continue to be Taiwan’s “reliable partner.”
The Republican legislator stressed that following the newly-sworn Taiwan President’s inauguration last Monday, China held a round of military exercises in response. “The forces of China conducted intimidating military exercises, sending 110 aircraft and 46 warships, demonstrating they are not interested in taking Taiwan by peaceful means,” he said.
He called on all democracies to “stand together against aggression and tyranny,” whether the tyranny is Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping, Focus Taiwan reported.
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