Gallagher: Congress Stands with US Allies in the Face of China’s Threats
I think one of our great strengths, relative to the Chinese Communist Party, is the network of allies and partners that we’ve built up throughout the years. Japan is the latest victim of China’s economic coercion, as the regime in Beijing has imposed a ban on Japanese seafood, citing “safety” concerns, after Japan started releasing treated wastewater from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in August. South Korea has been dealing with China’s influence campaign for years, and now, Seoul’s two major theaters are refusing to feature New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which is known for its mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture. This year, like in so many years before, Taiwan’s president isn’t allowed to participate in the APEC summit in person because of an objection from Beijing, which claims the island as a part of its territory. SAN FRANCISCO—House Select Committee on China Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) assured U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific that Congress has their back in the face of coercive and aggressive behaviors by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Nations and companies must know the risks of being dependent on China, Mr. Gallagher believes. In January, Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu warned that China is “more likely” to invade Taiwan in 2027. Ahead of the Biden–Xi meeting, Mr. Gallagher and other Republicans on the Select Committee on China wrote a letter to President Biden, asking him to “reverse [his] misguided policy and challenge Beijing to demonstrate its seriousness about improving [bilateral ties].” Release all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in China and ceasing all present and future harassment of Philippine naval resupply efforts around a contested shoal in the South China Sea are among the things that the Beijing regime can do to “demonstrate it truly wants a better relationship with the United States and the world,” their letter stated. NTD reporter Iris Tao contributed to this report.
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