Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) led a congressional delegation to China in September.
Beijing is hyping up rhetoric that Taiwan is seeking independence to rationalize its ambition to annex Taiwan, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) told the Atlantic Council on Nov. 6.
Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, had a wide-ranging discussion during the event, including topics related to China and Taiwan, drawing on insights from his recent trip to China as head of a bipartisan congressional delegation.
“I don’t see the evidence that Taiwan is looking to be an independent nation and directly challenge China. I think China sort of plays that up as a justification for their more aggressive behavior,” Smith said.
He elaborated on Beijing’s stance, saying: “[China talks] about the fact that Taiwan is part of China. Independence [of Taiwan] would be horrible for them. I don’t really agree with that.”
China’s communist regime has intensified diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Taiwan since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016 with the election of Tsai Ing-wen, who served two four-year terms. Beijing regards Tsai and her successor, current President Lai Ching-te, as “separatists” for their outspoken defense of Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Both Tsai and Lai have publicly affirmed that Taiwan is already an independent country, making a formal declaration of statehood unnecessary. Tsai made the statement during a BBC interview in January 2020, and Lai reiterated the position in a Bloomberg interview in August 2023.
In June, Lai reaffirmed his position during a speech to a Taiwan branch of Rotary International, declaring, “Taiwan is undoubtedly a country.”
He criticized Beijing for lacking historical evidence and legal proof to support its sovereignty claims over the self-governing island.
The Smith-led congressional delegation spent five days in China during their September trip, which included Reps. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.). According to a statement, the lawmakers met with several senior Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng.
By Frank Fang
