US lawmaker says Taiwan weapons are coming, Chinese exercises show need for deterrence

By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) – A senior U.S. lawmaker visiting Taipei said on Monday that weapons ordered by Taiwan were finally on their way and that China's “daunting” war drills last week underscored the need to build capacity deterrence of the island.

China claims democratic governance of Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Taiwan has complained for two years about delays in deliveries of US weapons, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, while manufacturers supply Ukraine to support its defense against Russia.

Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who promised the weapons would be delivered during his visit to Taiwan last year, said the Chinese military “armada” had sent the last week a very strong message to the United States.

“We're making progress on these weapons systems. I wish it would go faster, but they're coming,” McCaul told reporters after meeting with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te leading a five-member bipartisan delegation. other American legislators.

Other members of the delegation were Reps. Young Kim of California, Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Andy Barr of Kentucky, all Republicans; and Democrats Jimmy Panetta of California and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.

Taiwan must have enough weapons to show Chinese President Xi Jinping that the risk outweighs the benefits of invading the island, he added.

“President Lai and I, as always, had a very sober but very direct conversation about the threat to this island from its northern neighbor, and it is real,” McCaul said. “Without deterrence, President Xi has bold and aggressive ambitions.”

Taiwan should focus on maritime weapons, such as Harpoon anti-ship missiles, to thwart an invasion, he added.

McCaul also assured that whoever wins the November US presidential election, US support for Taiwan will remain.

Lai, who met McCaul earlier at the presidential office, said he would “strengthen national defense capabilities and show the world the determination of the Taiwanese people to defend their homeland.”

China's Foreign Ministry said McCaul and the other lawmakers traveled to Taiwan over Beijing's strong objections and lodged “stern representations.”

Last year, Beijing imposed sanctions on McCaul after he visited Taiwan and met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen.

China has increased its pressure against Taiwan over the past four years, including staging almost daily military activities near the island.

On Monday morning, in its daily update on China's movements over the previous 24 hours, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it had detected 21 Chinese military aircraft and 11 ships operating nearby.

Later on Monday, China announced military exercises west of Nanji Island, off the Chinese city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, and north of Taiwan.

Taiwanese forces evacuated Nanji and surrounding islands in 1955 under sustained Chinese attack.

Taiwan still controls the Kinmen and Matsu islands, further along the Chinese coast.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, who created the People's Republic of China.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; additional reporting by Fabian Hamacher and Liz Lee in Beijing; writing by Bernard Orr; editing by Sonali Paul and Gerry Doyle)