Some members of the U.S. Congress are intent on using Taiwan to fan the flames of confrontation between the U.S. and China. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) on July 28 introduced the bill to “reinforce our nation’s support of Taiwan as the island faces the increased threat of a Chinese Communist Party military attack,” the Democratic lawmaker said in a statement, reported Focus Taiwan. “As Taiwan continues to face threats to its security and sovereignty, the United States must reaffirm our support for and long-term cooperation with Taiwan,” Pappas said. “This legislation would prioritize Taiwan’s resiliency in the face of potential conflicts and expedite the delivery of much-needed resources to ensure they have the capability to defend themselves effectively.”
The bill is the House companion to the “Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act,” sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). The Senate bill requires language regarding “arms of a defensive character” in the Taiwan Relations Act to be replaced with new language that sets a new standard for arms sales, in order to deter conflict with China’s People’s Liberation Army.
