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Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) issued the following statement after meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior Taiwanese leadership. The meeting takes place as part of a Congressional Delegation to the island nation amidst increasing threats against it by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“I thank President Tsai Ing-wen for hosting our delegation here in Taipei and am glad to have had such a productive discussion about how we can continue to counter CCP aggression against Taiwan and further develop our trade relationship,” said Rep. Steel. “It is absolutely clear that the time to stand with Taiwan is now – not after a CCP invasion. I am, and always have been, fully committed to standing with Taiwan. I look forward to continued opportunities to partner with President Tsai and her government as we look for ways to enrich our economic ties, check the CCP’s appalling human rights abuses and reckless, hostile behavior towards sovereign nations, and bolster the critical alliance between our two nations.”
Earlier this year, Rep. Steel introduced the Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which will authorize the Administration to lend or lease defense supplies to the Government of Taiwan in the event of a CCP invasion. In August, she led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on Congressional leadership to quickly bring the bill up for a vote.
