U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) opposes the Biden administration’s recently issued National Security Strategy, which she says does not support an independent Taiwan nor counter aggression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“The CCP’s continued and open aggression should be a clear signal that they have no intention of respecting Taiwan’s sovereignty,” Rep. Steel said in an Oct. 14 statement. “The Biden administration cannot continue to stick its head in the sand and allow the CCP to dictate the terms of Taiwan’s existence.”
In the 48-page 2022 strategy released by the White House on Oct. 12, President Joe Biden writes that the People’s Republic of China “harbors the intention and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order in favor of one that tilts the global playing field to its benefit, even as the United States remains committed to managing the competition between our countries responsibly.”
“So, the United States will continue to defend democracy around the world, even as we continue to do the work at home to better live up to the idea of America enshrined in our founding documents,” he writes.
Rep. Steel, a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, supports the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and continues to advocate for holding the CCP accountable as a global bad actor and human rights abuser, according to her staff.
“This communist regime has routinely showcased its disregard for international norms, and now is the time to stand with Taiwan and show the CCP that the United States will not allow intimidation or threats against our allies,” she said.
To better support Taiwan, Rep. Steel in July, along with U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, H.R. 8631/S. 4652.
If enacted, the measure would provide for the loan and lease of defense articles to the Government of Taiwan, such that the military of Taiwan would be able to effectively use these defense articles in the event of a conflict with the People’s Republic of China, according to the text of the bill.
The measure remains under committee consideration in both houses of Congress.