Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi Issues Statement on Reported Blocking of President Lai Ching-te’s Transit Through the U.S. By Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party issued the following statement concerning a Financial Times report that the Trump Administration blocked the transit of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te through the United States. 

“The Trump Administration’s reported decision to deny Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s transit through the U.S. is both a sharp break from precedent and another example of the Trump Administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal that appears no closer despite concession after concession by this Administration to the CCP. Such a policy decision sends a dangerous signal to the CCP that Taiwan’s democracy is on the negotiating table. 

“Presidents of both parties have allowed Taiwan officials to transit through the U.S. in the past, and now should be no different. Giving in to Beijing’s demands of who Taiwan’s leaders can meet and where they can transit undermines Taiwan’s global participation and erodes American leadership with other allies and partners. We must continue to stand firmly with Taiwan, not abandon it.

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