House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul of Texas compared Chinese Communist Party chairman Xi Jinping to Adolf Hitler during a surprise visit to Taiwan.
McCaul is visiting the island democracy alongside Republican Reps. Young Kim of California, French Hill of Arkansas, Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Nathaniel Moran of Texas, as well as Democratic Reps. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and Ami Bera of California. The delegation, which was not previously announced, touched down on Wednesday. (RELATED: Sullivan Dismisses Concerns Over Joint Statement From China And Russia, Rep. McCaul Disagrees)
“This struggle for global power, the balance of power that we find ourselves in today often reminds me of my father’s generation, often referred to as the greatest in the United States,” McCaul said in a speech delivered alongside Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te, Bloomberg reported.
“Then we had Hitler and today we have Putin and Chairman Xi,” he added.
Hello from Taiwan 🇹🇼
I’m here to cover the bipartisan group of House members visiting Taipei as part of a congressional delegation led by l Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul pic.twitter.com/XPeqDPCaSx
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) April 6, 2023
McCaul is reportedly scheduled to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday. Tsai met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, provoking a military response from China. The People’s Liberation Army deployed an aircraft carrier off Taiwan’s southern coast, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry announced.
Tsai requested that the U.S. send more military aid to Taiwan, as well as provide training for its military, according to Punchbowl News. The FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act includes up to $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan, and the Pentagon is reportedly deploying between 100 and 200 troops on the island.
“Not very often does the world see Republicans and Democrats standing together on one issue,” McCarthy said. “One thing I would take pride in as an American — you’re watching your lawmakers stand together with both parties advocating greater democracy, with a plan to help deter any chance of a war in the future.”