Congress Member Wants To Make Going to War vs. China Easier

Jan. 13, 2022 (EIRNS)—At least one member of Congress wants President Joe Biden to be able to go to war right away, if he deems that China has “invaded” Taiwan. Biden “doesn’t have the authority [under the law] to actually respond” should China attack the island, complained Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), throwing in the claim that a U.S. response is needed to maintain stability in the region—blissfully ignoring that the U.S. recognizes the One China policy under which Taiwan is part of China. “If China were to invade Taiwan today, the President would have to come to Congress for authorization to respond,” she said speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium in Arlington. “We can’t lose months that it would take in order for us to provide a response.” She wants legislation, therefore, to make changes in the law to allow the President to intervene immediately—into what would in fact be a civil affair, and thereby far from defending Taiwan, would throw it into the midst of a geopolitical war.

In October Luria wrote in a Washington Post op-ed  that the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act requires the President to seek congressional approval before intervening militarily in Taiwan.