Incoming House Democrats are likely to maintain a policy of diplomatic and military support for Taiwan.
The News Lens
Date: 2018/11/07
By: Nick Aspinwall
Credit: Depositphotos
Democrats have taken the House of Representatives while Republicans will retain control of the Senate as the final results of the Nov. 6 United States midterm elections continue to trickle in.
The shakeup in the House will complicate President Donald Trump’s ability to push his domestic agenda, as the Democratic House majority can block legislation it does not support. It is unlikely, however, that the results will deal a blow to the Trump administration’s policies towards Taiwan.
Since Trump’s election in 2016, ties between the U.S. and Taiwan have been unprecedentedly warm as the U.S. has engaged Beijing in an all-out trade war. Congressional Democrats have stood with Trumpin taking a tougher stance on Chinese trade and intellectual property practices and have been critical of actions seen as favorable to China, such as Trump’s decision in May to ease U.S. penalties on Chinese technology firm ZTE. [FULL STORY]