US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul believes China will interfere in Taiwan’s 2024 election and impose a blockade against the island if China views the result as unfavorable. The remarks were made during a committee hearing on the state of US diplomacy on Thursday, which included questioning of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
McCaul said that a Taiwan-China war would make the war between Ukraine and Russia seem small in comparison. He co-sponsored the bill known as the CHIPS Act in order to reduce reliance on semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan and China.
He said that Taiwan is not prepared to deal with major cyber or conventional attacks. McCaul complained that purchases of US weapons approved three years ago have still not been delivered to Taiwan. He said sanctions should be implemented against China before an invasion, not after, as was the case with Russian sanctions.
He also said that the United States should leverage its defense cooperation partners in the QUAD and AUKUS partnerships to enhance deterrence against a Chinese attack.
McCaul has previously stated that he may visit Taiwan in April.