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| Risch, the top Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Shaheen, a member of the Democratic Party, led seven members of both houses of the Senate and House of Representatives to Canada from November 18 to 20 to attend the Halifax International Security Forum and hold a press conference. (Screenshot of the press conference video) |
A number of members of the U.S. Congress from both parties said that the world is currently engaged in a race between “democracy and autocracy”, and the outcome of the war in Ukraine will determine how the world system works next this century. Lawmakers say China is witnessing the direction of the Russian-Ukrainian war and that “the best way to contain China is for Ukraine to finally win.” ”
Sen Risch, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Jim Risch, R-ID) said at the Halifax International Security Forum on Nov. 19 that the world is gradually forming a new order divided by ideology.
Senator Rishi said, “Authoritarianism seems to be united with authoritarianism, and of course, you see Russia and China, Iran on one side, democracy on our side, and we are all trying to operate under a new world order that has emerged for decades, and I think that poses a challenge for us.” ”
“What happens in Ukraine will determine how the world works next,” Senator Rishi stressed more than once. He added that the outcome of this war will determine the ability of authoritarian states to examine their erosion of democratic values.
Rishi pointed out that the United Nations was created for quite clear purposes, one of which was to limit each country to govern within its own territory, and made it clear that no one country could arbitrarily seize part or all of its neighbors or other countries.
Senator Rishi and Sen Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a Democrat. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH) led seven bipartisan members of the House and Senate to Canada this past weekend to attend the Halifax International Security Forum, including Democrat Sen. Chris. Chris Coons, D-DE), Sen. Jackie Rosen. Jacky Rosen, D-NV), Senator Kristan Gillibrand. Kristen Gillibrand, D-NY), Rep. Jason Crowe. Jason Crow, D-CO), Sarah Jacobs (Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-CA), and Republican Sen. Mike Lownds. Mike Rounds, R-SD), and Rep. Michael McCaul. Michael McCaul, R-TX).
Russia and China are the top international security challenges After Ukraine, all walks of life focused on Taiwan
The theme of this year’s forum mainly revolves around Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and China’s challenge to the world order established by the West, led by the United States.
Senator Risch said he does not believe China wants to decouple from the world because it wants to continue to benefit from the current international system, but at the same time does not want to abide by international norms.
“I think what they want to do is take advantage, they can take advantage because their country is big,” Rishi said, “but I’m not sure they want to decouple, I don’t agree with that perception, I think they more like taking advantage of the whole world.” ”
At the meeting, different sessions of discussions repeatedly mentioned China’s military threat to Taiwan. “On the Taiwan issue, containment will be key, which is why it’s important (to defend) Ukraine,” McCall said.
McCaul further added that he does not consider a military invasion or blockade to be the Chinese government’s first option. “I think that would probably be the last option,” he said.
The Republican leader of the House of Representatives on foreign affairs also said that the US ambassador to China told him that “the best way to contain China is for Ukraine to win.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also warned at the Halifax Security Forum on Nov. 19 that China and Russia seek a world in which disputes can be resolved by force, and that the United States will continue to defend humanitarian principles and international law.
“Beijing, like Moscow, seeks a world where might makes right, a world where disputes can be resolved by force and where dictators can extinguish the flames of freedom,” Mr. Austin said in his speech.
Speaking about Taiwan, Mr. Austin said China’s activities around Taiwan were “more provocative,” with Beijing’s planes flying almost daily to intercept U.S. and allied aircraft.
“China wants to change the status quo in Taiwan, not the United States, not Taiwan”
China’s increasingly aggressive military actions in the Taiwan Strait have drawn strong concern from the U.S. executive branch and the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress.
Senator Sen Markey, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Panel of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ed Markey, D-MA) said in a video speech on November 17 at the annual conference of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that China intends to change the status quo on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
“The whole world should know that China wants to change the status quo in Taiwan, not the United States and not Taiwan,” Mr. Markey said.
Markey stressed that congressional Taiwan policy should focus on containing China’s unilateral use of force to change Taiwan’s status quo.
“We should do that by doing everything we can to put Taiwan in the strongest position of self-defense,” Markey said, “and we should make sure that our allies and partners in the region, and the world, know that we are committed to helping Taiwan defend itself and do everything we can to avoid conflict over Taiwan.” ”
“The world should know that it is the Chinese government that wants to change the status quo in Taiwan, not the United States or Taiwan,” Sen. Ed Markey, a Democratic senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Asia-Pacific panel, said Thursday at the annual meeting of “Power of China,” a Washington-based think tank for strategic and international studies. Markey also echoed President Biden’s earlier statement that the United States and China are not a Cold War state, but the United States must “recognize China’s intentions”.
In August, Democratic U.S. Senator Markey from Massachusetts led a congressional delegation to Taiwan and met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. During his short stay, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 30 sorties of warplanes and five warships to invade the sea and air space around Taiwan.
Senator Markey said the trip provided him with a first-hand assessment of Taiwan’s security situation. He said: If Taiwan is attacked militarily by China, the Taiwanese people will bear the brunt of all the consequences.
“So when we develop policies, we need to be aware of the risks that come with the policies we adopt and make sure that those risks bring tangible rewards for Taiwan’s security,” Markey said.
Not long before Markey’s visit to Taiwan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also led a large congressional delegation to Taiwan, causing a strong backlash from Beijing.
Beijing conducted a week of large-scale multi-service live-fire exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan after Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, and ballistic missiles launched by the People’s Liberation Army also flew over the skies of Taipei, causing a rapid escalation of regional security tensions.
Markey is also concerned that China is actively promoting authoritarianism at home and abroad, and their actions are reflected in support of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and aggressive policies toward Taiwan. Still, Markey said that even with all the differences between the U.S. and China, it is critical to keep bilateral channels of communication open.
“We are not in a Cold War with China, but we must recognize the intentions of the Chinese government,” Markey said in his speech, “and second, we must act with our partners and allies to protect our interests and values, and that includes acting with China and working with them when necessary.” Third, we must do all this while ensuring that unnecessary provocations with little return are avoided, that lines of communication are kept open, and that fatal miscalculations are avoided. ”
President Biden held a three-and-a-half-hour bilateral leadership meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia, last Monday. According to the post-meeting statements of the two sides, the two heads of state engaged in a “frank” dialogue on their respective priorities and intentions.
Although the summit was widely said to help ease tensions between the United States and China, a number of congressional Republicans also expressed the view that the talks would not bring about a turning point in U.S.-China relations.
But Senator Rishi said at the Halifax Security Forum over the weekend that he believes ultimately the United States must find a way to coexist with these authoritarian regimes.
“I think we have to learn to live with authoritarian governments, we don’t like them, they have almost no human rights to speak of, they have a very different set of views on governing the people,” Rishi said, “and I think it will take us years to find a balance between living with them [the autocracy] and doing business and maintaining our respective security situations.” ”
Senator Markey said direct dialogue between the United States and China plays a key role in reducing the outbreak of conflict. “A direct military conflict between two nuclear powers would pose a threat to the survival of humanity. President Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping earlier this week showed the importance of staying connected,” Markey said.
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