Kevin McCarthy to make Taiwan visit in challenge to China: report

The Pentagon is within the early phases of planning for Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy to journey to Taiwan later this yr as Home Republicans ​deal with China, in keeping with a report on Monday. ​

The ​journey to the democratic island nation may come as quickly as spring, Punchbowl News reported, because the Pentagon works out safety logistics for the go to and the anticipated response from Beijing — which views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed reunification, together with by pressure. ​

China ​ratcheted up army drills close to the island final August when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) led a congressional delegation to the island. ​

McCarthy (R-Calif.), then the minority chief, vowed in July to journey to Taiwan ​if Republicans gained management of the Home within the November midterm elections. McCarthy additionally expressed assist for Pelosi’s go to, the primary to Taiwan by a Home speaker in additional than 20 years.

McCarthy’s journey to Taiwan would additional inflame already tense relations between Beijing and Washington at a time when each Republicans and Democrats are urgent the Biden administration to take a harder stand towards China. 

Earlier this month, the Home voted to create a brand new China select committee that may deal with the menace to America’s economic system​ ​posed by the Chinese language Communist Celebration.

The Biden administration, which initially opposed Pelosi’s touring to Taiwan due to the diplomatic points it created, saved ​its distance from her go to — though she was permitted to journey on a army jet. 

Nonetheless, the White Home reportedly has grow to be extra engaged with the potential journey by McCarthy.