United States commits to Taiwan
On May 27, a US Congressional Committee visited Taiwan to demonstrate that Taiwan’s independence remains a top priority in Washington.
The meeting comes at a tense time, however. In Europe, Russia and Ukraine remain at war. In the Middle East, Israel continues its war in Gaza, and against Iranian proxies. Behind that curtain is the Chinese Communist Party, offering support to these “revisionist” powers.
Events in Taiwan also heighten the intensity of the American delegation’s visit. A week ago, Lai Ching Te, Taiwan’s new President took office. The US sought to mark the occasion with a visit by the bipartisan Foreign Affairs Committee, hoping to show our support and get the new President off to a good start. But the Chinese Communist Party beat us to the punch.
President Lai’s inauguration was immediately followed by two days of Chinese military drills around Taiwan. The CCP stated the drills were “punishment” for Lai’s “separatist” inauguration speech.
The American delegation arrived on Sunday, May 26. It is the first group of US lawmakers to visit Taiwan since Lai took office. The delegation was headed by Texas Republican Michael McCaul.
McCaul echoed his gratitude for being hosted by the Taiwanese President, and stated the historic meeting “sends a signal to the CCP that the US stands with Taiwan.”
President Lai highlighted 45 years of the Taiwan Relations Act, and rededicated Taiwan to strengthening their relationship with the US. Specifically, Taiwan is dedicated to “pursuing peace through strength” which shows a mutual desire to avoid war with China through mutual deterrence.
While the visit to Taiwan was ultimately a success, America’s stance on Taiwan has remained surprisingly blurry under the Biden administration. Early in his presidency, Biden made some noise when he walked back his statements on our commitment to Taiwan.
Visits with American and Chinese officials — both in China and the US — have also indicated a desire by the powers to cooperate, but at lower levels, officials seem dedicated to Taiwanese sovereignty and the use of force to do so.
In March 2024, Admiral John Aquilino, the leader of the Indo-Pacific Command, stated that China is growing its military at historic scale and is looking to invade Taiwan by 2027.
