TAIPEI: Missiles ordered by Taiwan have finally arrived, a senior US lawmaker visiting Taipei said on Monday, and said last week’s “threatening” Chinese military drills highlighted the need for Taiwan to bolster its deterrent capabilities.
China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty.
Taiwan has complained for the past two years that deliveries have been delayed because manufacturers are supplying U.S.-made weapons such as Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine to help defend against Russia.
Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, who pledged the handover of these weapons during a visit to Taiwan last year, said last week’s Chinese military “fleet” sent a very strong message to the United States.
“We are making progress on these weapons systems. I wish it could happen sooner, but it will happen soon,” McCaul told reporters after meeting with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.
He added that Taiwan needed to have enough weapons to show Chinese President Xi Jinping that the risks of invading Taiwan outweighed the benefits.
“Chairman Lai and I discussed, as we always do, very calmly and frankly, the threat that this island faces from its neighbor to the north, and it is a real threat,” McCaul said. “Without a deterrent, President Xi has bold and aggressive ambitions.”
China imposed sanctions on McCaul last year after he visited Taiwan and met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen.
Published May 27, 2024 08:09 IST
