Republicans Sending Troops Where?

Photo by israel palacio on Unsplash

On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated that he was open to discussing possibly deploying U.S. troops to Taiwan if needed to defend the island. As he noted, “strategic ambiguity” on this issue is not working.

During a segment on “Fox News Sunday,” anchor Shannon Bream asked Graham whether he would support authorizing a U.S. force to be sent to Taiwan if the tension between the island and China escalates. In response, Graham said that the Senate should consider whether it is necessary for the U.S. and Taiwan to enter a defense agreement. He added that currently they don’t have one, but the question is whether they should have one. He continued by noting that he would be open to the possibility of the U.S. forces assisting in Taiwan’s defense “because it’s in our national security interest to do so.”

Graham’s comments come after last week House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other top U.S. leaders and lawmakers had a meeting with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. The meeting had been described as being focused on providing “greater peace and stability for the world.”

Graham added that he would be willing to send aid to Taiwan because the country is a “democracy” and he proceeded to state that he “would increase training and give the F-16s they need” in Taiwan.

In the interview, he also noted that while he did believe in the One China policy, he would also fight for Taiwan because the country is a democracy that the U.S. has supported for decades. He continued by claiming that “I would up our game” because if they don’t the situation is likely to escalate to war.