TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker highlighted the importance of continued support for Taiwan on Saturday.
“The people of Taiwan are resolved to live free, and their determination is a beacon of hope for the world,” Wicker said in a report.
If the US did not intervene during a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, regional nations would be less willing to host American military bases and troops, he said. “Ultimately, our forces might have to retreat as far east as Hawaii or Guam, making our homeland more vulnerable.”
The senator supported the Taiwan Relations Act and expressed optimism that the US and Taiwan would boost joint weapons production. This would benefit both economies and “allow us to stand up for the cause of freedom at the same time,” he said.
Wicker also pointed out that Taiwan makes the majority of the world’s semiconductors. Chinese leader Xi Jinping “could hold the global economy hostage” if China seized Taiwan’s semiconductor fabs, he said.
The senator said, “I am glad to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them and support their right to self-determination.”
Wicker and fellow senator Deb Fischer returned from a visit to Taiwan late last month. They met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and other top officials for talks on areas of mutual concern. The two senators urged Taiwan to increase its defense budget.
