Ranking Member Khanna Blasts Trump for Violating Long-Standing Taiwan Policy, Demands Clarification

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s comments about consulting with General Secretary Xi Jinping about arms sales to Taiwan:

“Trump’s admission that he is discussing future U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi is alarming and a blatant violation of U.S. policy and the Six Assurances.

His statement shows just how Trump treats Taiwan as a ‘bargaining chip’ in trade negotiations with China. It shows he is more eager to make bad deals with America’s strategic competitors than strengthen ties with long-standing friends like Taiwan. It is not only an affront to the security of Taiwan’s 23 million people, but a stain on America’s global credibility.

I urge the President to reaffirm our commitment to the Six Assurances and clarify that our policy on Taiwan has not changed. Taiwan must be off the table.”

The Six Assurances are six policy principles the United States has committed to during every administration since President Reagan. Among them, the second Assurance states that the United States did not agree to consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. Unlike the Taiwan Relations Act, the Six Assurances are not yet codified into law. Congress is currently advancing legislation to codify these stabilizing principles through the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act.

###