Weapons are on the way, US lawmakers say in Taiwan during visit

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The weapons Taiwan ordered from the United States will arrive, a top U.S. lawmaker said Monday, as a bipartisan House delegation met with the Beijing-claimed island's new president.

Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that rejects China's sovereignty claims, has complained about delays in the delivery of U.S. weapons seen as crucial to defending the island against a possible invasion by Beijing, which has not ruled out recourse strength to achieve its goals.

“We are moving forward with these weapons systems,” Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said at a news conference in Taipei after his meeting with d other lawmakers with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. “I’d like to see them faster, but they’re coming.”

McCaul said the importance of these weapons was underscored by the “armada” of Chinese ships and aircraft that engaged in “punishment” exercises around Taiwan last week in response to the inauguration speech. deadline. In the speech, Lai, the former vice president, called on China to stop its threats and “face the reality” of Taiwan's existence.

In translated remarks before his closed-door meeting with lawmakers, Lai said the delegation's visit “demonstrates your strong support for the new government as well as the people of Taiwan.”

Although the United States has no formal relationship with Taiwan, it is the island's main international donor.

Last month, Congress passed an aid package providing nearly $2 billion to support Taiwan's military, an investment that McCaul said is crucial to maintaining peace in the region and getting China to question the point of attacking your neighbor.

“We have to demonstrate that the consequences would be far too severe, that the risks would outweigh the benefits,” McCaul told NBC News in an interview Monday.

“The first thing is we need to get these weapons in.”

In recent years, China has stepped up its military and other pressures on Taiwan, including sending military planes and ships to the island almost daily. On Monday, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that as of 6 a.m. local time, it had detected 21 Chinese military aircraft, 11 Chinese warships and 4 Chinese coast guard vessels around the island during of the previous 24 hours.

Speaking at the news conference, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told U.S. lawmakers that last week's joint military exercises were China's “way of welcoming this delegation” and that “your visit at this critical time is a powerful gesture.”

China opposes visits to Taiwan by delegations of foreign lawmakers like the one led by McCaul, who was sanctioned by Beijing after a similar trip to the island in April 2023.

China's Foreign Ministry said Monday that the U.S. lawmakers' visit to Taiwan violated the U.S. pledge to maintain only unofficial relations with the island and that it had lodged “solemn representations.”

“China firmly opposes military ties between the United States and Taiwan, opposes arming Taiwan, and urges relevant U.S. lawmakers to stop playing the Taiwan card,” spokesman Mao said Ning during a regular press briefing in Beijing.

In addition to McCaul, the delegation includes Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., Joe Wilson, R-S.C., Andy Barr, R-Ky., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.

McCaul added that the United States would continue to support Taiwan regardless of who wins the November U.S. presidential election, President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump.

“I don't see either candidate taking a weak stance on China when it comes to Taiwan,” he said in the interview.