TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Standing in front of Taiwan’s newly elected president on Monday, House Speaker Michael McCaul, R-Texas, drew a stark parallel between China’s hostility toward the island and the tension that shook the world during World War II. World War.
“All democracies must stand together against aggression and tyranny, whether [Vladimir Putin] and Russia, the Ayatollah of Iran, or President Xi, our neighbor in China – an unholy alliance is eroding peace around the world,” McCaul said. “Since World War II, my father’s war, we have not seen such blatant violence and naked aggression.”
The Texas Republican is leading a multi-day diplomatic trip to Taipei with a bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers. The group met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-tse and Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu on their first full day — the first U.S. delegation to meet with the new officials since they took office recently. One week.
“I gave them some updates on the weapons and some other things we’re doing to help them, but they just wanted me to know that the threat from President Xi was becoming very intense,” McCaul told Fox News Digital after the meetings.
CHINA’S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ENJOYS THE INAUGURATION OF TAIWAN AND THE PHILIPPINES’ CONFRONT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul met with Taiwanese President Lai despite threats from Chinese leader Xi Jinping. (Getty Images | House Foreign Affairs Committee)
Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., chairman of the Foreign Affairs panel’s Indo-Pacific subcommittee, told Fox News Digital: “I thought both meetings were very productive today, we had frank conversations.”
“In all our conversations, one thing was very clear. Nobody wants a conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” Kim said. “Our goal is not to think about an invasion or a potential conflict, our goal is to ensure that deterrence exists by providing Taiwan with what it needs to protect and defend itself.”
The delegation also includes House Taiwan Caucus co-chair Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., as well as Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Chrissy Houlahan , Democrat of Pennsylvania.
Both Taiwanese and American leaders made it clear that China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific is creating an increasingly serious situation.
It comes days after China surrounded the island with dozens of warships and military aircraft as “punishment” for Lai’s defense of a free and independent Taiwan, according to Beijing’s Defense Ministry.
CHINA SANCTIONS FORMER REPUBLICAN MIKE GALLAGHER AFTER TAIWAN PRESIDENT’S INAUGURATION
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army launched large-scale joint military exercises throughout Taiwan on May 24, 2024. (Gui Xinhua/PLA/China Military/Anadolu via Getty Images)
During his remarks to the media after lawmakers’ meeting with Lai, Foreign Minister Wu darkly joked that China had “welcomed” the American delegation with its military exercises.
McCaul called it an “intimidation tactic to punish democracy.”
“They don’t like democracy. I know President Xi used to say [Former Taiwanese President Tsai] that… democracy does not work. “Democracy is dysfunctional, democracy is broken,” he stated during the press conference. “There is no freedom in his government. There is no democracy. And the people have no power.”
Referencing China launching military exercises around the same time as his trip to Taiwan last year, McCaul joked: “I’m starting to think it’s not me they don’t like me.”
Wu said of the lawmakers’ visit: “At this critical time, it is a powerful gesture. It is a powerful demonstration of the United States’ strong bipartisan support for Taiwan.”
LEGISLATORS FIGHT AS TAIWAN PARLIAMENT DESCENTS INTO CHAOS
McCaul gave Lai a Stetson hat as a gesture of goodwill. (House Foreign Affairs Committee)
During his previous remarks at the presidential office, Lai referenced former US President Reagan’s peace through strength foreign policy.
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“Therefore, in the future, I will improve reforms and strengthen national defense, showing the world the determination of the Taiwanese people to defend their homeland,” Lai said.
The camaraderie between American lawmakers and Taiwanese officials was palpable during both meetings.
In a light-hearted moment before his comments with Lai, McCaul modeled the American-made Stetson he brought as a gift to Lai. The two men shared a hug and handshake after concluding their public comments.
