House Democrat Says China Can’t Stop US Warships From Transiting Taiwan Strait

 

Rep. Krishnamoorthi is the top Democrat on the House's China committee

by Dave DeCamp 

Posted onJune 11, 2023CategoriesNewsTagsChina

The top Democrat on the House’s new China committee has warned that China’s actions will not stop the US from sending warships into the Taiwan Strait.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s (D-IL) comments come after the US military accused a Chinese naval vessel of making an “unsafe” maneuver in the Taiwan Strait by passing 150 yards in front of a US warship.

“I hope that the CCP does not believe that such dangerous maneuvers, or the lack of communication between our two countries, will somehow discourage our freedom of navigation on the waterways in the Taiwan Strait, or South China Sea, or any international waterways,” Krishnamoorthi told Nikkei Asia.

The encounter between the US and Chinese warships took place as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The two military chiefs did not hold a meeting because the US refused to lift sanctions imposed on Li in 2018.

During the conference, Li defended China’s actions in the Taiwan Strait, saying the US military was in the region for “provocation.” Krishnamoorthi suggested the US might increase its military activity near China, which would increase the risk of an accident between the two militaries.

“We will continue to exercise our freedom of navigation, and I think that any attempts by them to discourage us through some dangerous maneuvers will be extremely counterproductive, and I believe will be perceived as bullying by the CCP, and will invite only more actions and reactions in the region,” he said.

Krishnamoorthi also told Nikkei that the US and NATO should increase cooperation with India as part of the strategy against China. He called for India to be included in NATO-Plus, a group that currently includes Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel.

“It’s clear that India has become a very important strategic partner and friend to the United States, especially in securing the Indo-Pacific region, and for us to draw closer,” Krishnamoorthi said.

https://news.antiwar.com/2023/06/11/house-democrat-says-china-cant-stop-us-warships-from-transiting-taiwan-strait/