US lawmaker warns Beijing against ‘unprovoked attack’ on Taiwan

In Taipei, visiting House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul says deterrence is the most effective way to prevent conflict

Regardless of the results of the US presidential election, US support for Taiwan will remain steadfast, McCaul says

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (right) greets US Representative Michael McCaul at the Presidential Office in Taipei on Monday. Photo: AFP/Taiwan Presidential Office

Published: 9:00pm, 27 May 2024

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has the authority to declare war if Beijing makes an unprovoked attack on Taiwan, the head of the congressional body said in Taipei on Monday.

But committee chairman Michael McCaul said deterrence was the most effective strategy to prevent such an outcome.

“If the island in an unprovoked manner was invaded, then it would be to the American people and the United States Congress, and my committee that has the power to declare war, how to deal with that,” McCaul said on the second day of a five-day trip to the island.

“But my job right now is to make sure we do everything we can to make sure we never end up in that situation. And to make sure that deterrence is here to stop that from ever happening.”

He added that both the US Congress and government were fully committed to ensuring that Taiwan had the necessary weapons for deterrence.

McCaul is part of a bipartisan group of six lawmakers visiting Taiwan despite warnings from Beijing.