[ad_1]
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., issued a stark warning over U.S. “vulnerability” to China following his meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday alongside a delegation of congressional Republicans and Democrats.
Speaking with Fox News Digital following the meeting, Zinke praised the bipartisan message that “peace through strength,” a phrase cemented by the late former President Ronald Reagan, was the best way to uphold the U.S. commitment to the defense of Taiwan, but warned that Democrats and Republicans needed to continue working together to overcome the vulnerabilities to China that he said both countries share.
“There was consensus, which was really important to me, that both countries are vulnerable to China,” Zinke said of the meeting, specifically naming areas like the manufacturing of certain components, materials and minerals processing where China has the upper hand.
“We have to address that together. So I thought the day was one that was very bipartisan, and important too, as we had a unified message and we discussed ways to honor our commitments, but also increase trade and reduce our vulnerability to China on components that now are critical to both economies,” he said.
ERNST SLAMS ‘COMMUNIST CHINA’ FOR TRYING TO DICTATE US-TAIWAN RELATIONS AFTER MEETING WITH ITS PRESIDENT
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., walks alongside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., ahead of a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke)
Zinke said that there were “areas of improvement” when it came to whether Taiwan was getting enough support from the Biden administration, especially with what he called its “ambiguous” message on the defense of the island nation.
He called for the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government to work together on the commitment for more weapons systems to Taiwan, and argued that it “shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
PELOSI PRAISES MCCARTHY’S ‘LEADERSHIP’…
[ad_2]
