Lindsey Graham urges US 'defense alliance' with Taiwan
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The US Senator says Washington should take a firm stance on Taiwan and calls for increased militarization around the Chinese island.
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Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham at the US Capitol in Washington DC, US, February 10, 2022 (AP)
US Senator Lindsey Graham announced that he would support sending troops and military aid to Taiwan in order to fight what he called a Chinese "invasion" of the island.
The Senator who spoke on Fox News Sunday said, “I think they're (China) setting the stage possibly for a blockade of Taiwan, that the Communist Chinese party is going to test us dramatically this year and next year before the (Taiwanese) election."
Graham, who has been described as a “war hawk”, compared the situation in Taiwan to that of West Germany in 1961.
He said, "In 1961, the Russians tried to isolate West Berlin. So I'm fearful that the Chinese may be setting conditions to blockade Taiwan in the coming months or weeks, and we need to respond forcefully if they do that."
He has also been a staunch supporter of the Ukrainian government and has called for a similar military strategy to be implemented in Taiwan. Graham believes that the US should start training Taiwanese troops “so they can fight like Ukrainians.” He also advocated for the reinstallment of nuclear-tipped missiles in US submarines and for sending F-16 fighter jets to the country. The Senator also teased landing US troops to "defend" the Island.
The Republican Senator has historically viewed Democratic party leaders' foreign policy as “ambiguous” or “indecisive”. He believes that the same practices are being carried out in Taiwan. Graham said US policy is of “strategic ambiguity” since the US holds a One China policy but does not endorse the Chinese Communist Party’s sovereignty over the island.
Instead, he believes that the US should form a strategic military alliance with Taiwan.
“So the question for the Congress is, should we have a defense agreement with the island of Taiwan?” Graham answered his hypothetical questions by saying, “I’d be very much open to using US forces to defend Taiwan because it’s in our national security interest to do so.”
The warmonger claimed he does uphold a One China policy but also stated that the US should fight for Taiwan because it is a "democracy". He added that he would even support moving “war forces to South Korea and Japan” in an attempt to encircle China.
The key motivator for Graham is not so-called “democracy”. In fact, as he later revealed, a Chinese reunification with Taiwan would put US economic interests at harm as the island produces more than “90% of the high-end chips” that the US covets.
Graham has been an avid supporter of US-led or backed wars. In 2004, Graham who was commenting on the US invasion of Iraq said, “We have an opportunity to demonstrate to the Arab world and others that the rule of law matters.”
US prepares for military confrontation
Similar sentiments were shared by other US officials, such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen last week. McCarthy disregarded Chinese warnings against hosting a meeting with Taiwan’s President, which resulted in further escalations in the area.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Micheal McCaul said during a visit to the Island that Congress would authorize military action against China in the event of an "invasion" of Taiwan.
The Foreign Ministry of China said the meetings between US officials and Tsai Ing-Wen are “a platform and convenience to engage in separatist activities” and thus “seriously violating the One China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques.”
China ready for all possibilities
Although China has consistently pushed for a peaceful reunification strategy, it has also strengthened its military capabilities to deter any possible threat by the US on Taiwan, which is roughly 160km off Mainland China.
In response to the meetings, China launched a three-day-long military drill in the Taiwan Strait dubbed Operation United Sharp Sword. As part of the event, the People’s Liberation Army simulated strikes on key targets on the Island in which naval vessels, fighter jets, and ground troops participated.
The US fears a democratic reunification of China as McCaul has already equated a pro-unity elections win with an alleged Chinese rigged result.
As he said on Saturday, “China is going to try to influence this next election and take over the island without a shot fired.”
Accusing states of undemocratic practices and leading wars on their people have been historic practices of the US when its economic interests are put in harm's way.
