Taipei, Taiwan – House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), speaking face-to-face with Taiwan’s new president on Monday, drew clear parallels between China’s hostility toward the island and tensions that rocked the world during World War II.
“All democracies must stand united against aggression and tyranny. [Vladimir Putin] “And an unholy alliance, whether it be Russia, the Ayatollahs in Iran or President Xi Jinping of our neighboring China, is undermining peace around the world,” McCaul said. “Not since my father’s war, World War II, have we seen such blatant violence and naked aggression.”
Trump, a Texas Republican, is leading a multi-day diplomatic trip to Taipei with a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, meeting with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-che and Foreign Minister Wu Shao-hsing on the first day of the trip, marking the first time a U.S. delegation has met with senior officials from the new administration since it took office a little over a week ago.
“I gave them some updates on weapons and other activities we’re doing to support them, but they just wanted me to know that the threats from Chairman Xi are escalating very dramatically,” McCaul told Fox News Digital after the meeting.
China Foreign Ministry condemns Taiwan inauguration and Philippines standoff in South China Sea
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul met with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-kuo despite threats from Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Getty Images | House Foreign Affairs Committee)
Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Indo-Pacific, told Fox News Digital, “I thought both meetings today were very productive and we had very candid discussions.”
“During our conversations, one thing became very clear: No one wants conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” Kim said. “Our goal is not to contemplate aggression or potential conflict, but to ensure deterrence by providing Taiwan with what it needs to defend and protect itself.”
The delegation also includes Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), co-chair of the House Taiwan Caucus, Rep. Joe Wilson (Lausanne), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).
The leaders of both Taiwan and the United States made clear that Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific was creating an increasingly dire situation.
A few days ago, China surrounded Taiwan with dozens of warships and military aircraft as a “punishment” for Lai Ming’s advocacy for a free and independent Taiwan, according to the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
China sanctions former Republican congressman Mike Gallagher after he becomes Taiwan’s president
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command launched a large-scale joint military exercise around Taiwan on May 24, 2024. (Kui Xinhua News Agency/People’s Liberation Army/Chinese military/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Speaking to media after a meeting between lawmakers and Lai, Wu joked darkly that China had “welcomed” the US delegation to the military drills.
McCaul called it an “intimidation tactic designed to punish democracy.”
“They don’t like democracy. President Xi has often said this. [Former Taiwanese President Tsai] “Democracy is not working. Democracy is dysfunctional. Democracy is broken,” he said at a news conference. “In his government there is no freedom. There is no democracy. And the people have no power.”
Noting that China began military exercises around the same time as his visit to Taiwan last year, McCaul quipped, “I’m beginning to think that it’s me they dislike.”
“This is a powerful gesture at this critical time,” Wu said of the lawmakers’ visit, “a strong demonstration of the United States’ strong bipartisan support for Taiwan.”
Taiwan’s parliament plunges into chaos as lawmakers fight
McCall presented Rye with a Stetson hat as a token of goodwill. (House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs)
In his earlier remarks at the Blue House, Lai referred to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy of “peace through strength.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
“Therefore, going forward we will press ahead with reform, strengthen national defence, and show the world the determination of the Taiwanese people to defend their motherland,” Lai said.
At both meetings, the sense of camaraderie between U.S. lawmakers and Taiwanese officials was clear.
In a warm moment before the speech, McCall posed in an American-made Stetson hat that he had brought as a gift for Lai, and the two men embraced and shook hands after the public speech.
