美眾院中國委員會訪台

【縛雞之論】英文拷到 G / D 找中文翻譯
The focus of the new report from NIKKEI Asia is the Committee on China is talking about the possibility of a visit to Taiwan, which is a stop of its trip to the Indo-Pacific countries.  The delegation is sure to meet with and interview key personnel during its stay in Taiwan, which can be interpreted as a field hearing in a way but not as accurate as a formal hearing as it does in the Capitol.

美眾院中國委員會 擬在台開聽證會    自由 20230213

在中國高空偵察氣球事件增添美中緊張之際，「日經亞洲」十二日報導，美國聯邦眾議院美中戰略競爭特別委員會預計本月底正式運作，正討論指派代表團訪問台灣，且不排除在台灣舉行聽證會。

須向中國傳達強烈挺台訊號

據報導，維吉尼亞州共和黨籍聯邦眾議員、美中戰略競爭特別委員會成員魏特曼透露，他和委員會其他成員正研擬台灣行，因為必須向中方傳達美國國會強烈力挺台灣的訊號。魏特曼還提到，代表團可能會在台灣召開聽證會。

魏特曼並未表明訪台時間點，但提到代表團預計三月底左右出訪東南亞，屆時也考慮訪問日本。在行程結束後，代表團將依據出訪期間的心得，提出一份有關中國的報告，同時也會舉辦公開聽證會，並展開一系列調查。

委員會討論派代表團訪台灣

美中特別委員會將從國家安全、經濟和人權等廣泛議題著手，檢視中共作為，同時也將向眾院其他委員會提出與中國相關的政策建議。威斯康辛州共和黨籍聯邦眾議員、美中特別委員會主席蓋拉格上月即表明，將關注已批准、但延宕交付的一八○億美元對台軍售案。

此外，德州聯邦眾議員、外交事務委員會主席麥考爾也計畫這個春季率領跨黨派代表團訪台。一名共和黨助理表示，「主席無疑正在計畫亞洲行，目的是增強與印度─太平洋地區重要夥伴的同盟關係，而且他對行程納入台灣抱有希望」。眾院共和黨籍議長麥卡錫月初也曾向媒體表示，他打算追隨民主黨籍前任議長裴洛西的腳步訪台，「我不認為中國可以命令我能去哪裡」。

 

Members of U.S. special committee on China weighing visit to Taipei    NIKKEI ASIA 20230212

Trip would demonstrate 'we're strongly on the side of Taiwan,' key GOP lawmaker stresses

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. House special committee on China is in talks to send a delegation to Taiwan in a show of support for the self-governed island that faces intensified military pressure from China.

Rep. Rob Wittman, a Virginia Republican and a senior member on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, told Nikkei that he and other members of the committee are exploring a trip to Taiwan.

"We know that will infuriate the Chinese," Wittman said. "But I think it's incredibly important for us to do that, because you have to send the signal that we're strongly on the side of Taiwan."

The delegation might hold a field hearing in Taiwan, according to the congressman, who said the schedule remains to be discussed.

The select committee starts full-fledged activities at the end of this month. Though the panel lacks the authority to approve laws, it will examine the Chinese Communist Party in a range of areas including national security, the economy and human rights. The group will submit policy recommendations on China to other committees in the House of Representatives.

Congressional leaders have discussed plans to visit Taiwan as well. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Feb. 1 that he seeks to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who traveled to Taiwan in August.

"I don't think China can tell me where I can go at any time, at any place," McCarthy said.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is due to lead a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan this spring.

"The chairman is definitely planning a trip to Asia focused on shoring up our important alliances in the Indo-Pacific," said a GOP aide. "And he is hopeful that will include a trip to Taiwan."

A senior U.S. defense official told Nikkei that military tensions around Taiwan would escalate with each congressional visit.

"We think they're always prepared to do something of that nature," said the official, speaking of China's People's Liberation Army. "We saw that with the quickness that the PLA was able to respond to Speaker Pelosi's visit" even though her itinerary was not set in stone.

When Pelosi visited Taiwan, China responded by conducting massive military drills around the island, including firing ballistic missiles.

President Joe Biden's administration has said it is up to the lawmakers to decide where they travel abroad. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to China has been postponed in response to the Chinese balloon incident. The erosion of bilateral dialogue could amplify the risk of an accidental clash between the two powers.

The China select committee plans trips to other destinations apart from Taiwan. Wittman said there will be a tour of Southeast Asia starting around the end of March.

Wittman touched on Japan being a possible destination as well. The select committee will prepare a report on China based on the findings from the Asia trips as well as public hearings in Congress and a series of investigations.