A senior US congressman pledged today to contribute to the training of his armed forces. Taiwan and for expediting the delivery of weapons, at a time when China began three days of military exercises around the island.

China announced the military drills a day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from the US, where she met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, angering Beijing, which sees the island as a Chinese province destined to be reunited with the mainland. even by force if necessary.

Speaking at a dinner in Taipei hosted by Tsai for his bipartisan delegation, Michael McCall, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said they were there to strongly support Taiwan and noted that it was important for democracies to be united.

“As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I sign off on all foreign arms shipments, including weapons to Taiwan, and I promise you, Madam Speaker, that we will deliver those weapons,” he said.

Taiwan has been complaining since last year about delays in deliveries of US weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles as manufacturers funnel shipments to Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russia.

“We are doing everything we can in Congress to expedite these sales and provide you with the weapons you need to defend yourself,” said Republican McCall.

“And we will ensure that your army is trained – not for war, but for peace,” he added, without going into details. “Projecting weakness only causes aggression and conflict. The projection of force provides deterrence and promotes peace,” he said.

Although the defense treaty between Taiwan and the US ended in 1979 when Washington severed formal diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing, close military relations still exist and the US is Taiwan’s main foreign source of weapons.

China describes Taiwan as the most sensitive and important issue in its relationship with the US, and the issue is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}