‘MAKE IT CLEAR’: The US does not want to go to war with China, but it must compete with it and also stand up for human rights and democracy, the US representative said

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 12, 2020
By: Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporter

Recognizing Taiwan as an independent country would be the most punitive measure the US could take against Beijing’s aggressiveness, US representative Michael McCaul, the ranking member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during an interview with Voice of America (VOA).

In a video published by VOA yesterday, McCaul, who is also chairman of the House’s China Task Force, discussed US foreign policy related to Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, as well as the accountability of Beijing and the WHO in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pointing out that some experts have said that Beijing’s national security legislation in Hong Kong might serve as a blueprint for how it deals with Taiwan, VOA’s Lee Yi-hua (李逸華) asked if the US Congress, known to be supportive of Taiwan, would take additional steps on Taiwan and cross-strait security.

The US Congress has approved arms sales, including F-16 jets, to assist with Taiwan’s self-defense, McCaul said.    [FULL  STORY]