Sen. Cruz Renews Calls to Allies to Resist Chinese Coercion
Expresses disappointment and concern at Kiribati’s decision to sever ties with Taiwan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that Kiribati is switching recognition from Taiwan in favor of China:
"Kiribati's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China should deeply trouble every country in the Pacific, as another example of how the Chinese Communist Party is systematically using its economic and military coercion to advance its agenda at the expense of others in the region. Today's decision also directly undermines American interests and national security. Kiribati previously housed a Chinese missile detection site, which China will almost certainly seek to reopen, that directly threatened our security in Hawaii. It is imperative that all free nations resist China's attempts to isolate Taiwan and expand its sphere of influence across the Pacific."
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