Republican Senator Wicker says US security commitments to Taiwan must be upheld

Key facts

• Republican Senator Roger Wicker stated US security commitments to Taiwan must be upheld.
• Wicker met with Taiwan's representative to the US, Alexander Yui, on Tuesday.
• Four other Republican senators called for the release of over $15 billion in stalled security assistance for Taiwan.
• Wicker said Congress has authorized resources for Taiwan's enhanced training, security assistance, and arms sales.
• China has repeatedly called for an end to Taiwan arms sales.
• Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Republican Senator Roger Wicker emphasized on September 29 that the United States must uphold its security commitments to Taiwan. Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, made these remarks following a meeting with Alexander Yui, Taiwan's representative in the US. He stated that Congress has a duty to ensure the Taiwan Relations Act is followed and that decisions regarding Taiwan's defense needs are based on a joint assessment of military necessity.

Wicker also discussed the perceived rise of Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific with Yui. He noted that Congress has authorized and appropriated increased resources for Taiwan's training, security assistance, and arms sales, urging that these funds be used for their intended purposes. This comes as four other Republican senators last week called on the Trump administration to release over $15 billion in stalled national security aid for Taiwan.

China has consistently urged an end to US arms sales to Taiwan. In May, following a trip to Beijing, President Trump indicated he was holding back a new package worth approximately $14 billion. However, after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington last week, Trump stated that Xi understood his position on Taiwan. Wicker urged the US to maintain a precedent set by then-President Ronald Reagan, who asserted Washington would not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and asserts that its future can only be decided by its people. Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo stated earlier on Tuesday that the island is in continuous talks with Washington regarding arms sales and has received assurances that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged since the summit between Trump and Xi.