What Taiwan’s Elections Mean for the U.S.—and the World

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Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13 was closely observed far beyond its borders for one particular reason: The outcome could have triggered a belligerent response from China, which could have led to dangerous new tensions between Washington and Beijing. But that didn’t happen. The winner, the Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te, was not Beijing’s preferred candidate, given his reputation in China as a separatist. Yet Beijing responded to Lai’s victory in a relatively muted fashion. Lai, in turn, has continued to signal that he doesn’t want to escalate tensions with his country’s bigger neighbor.

How is Washington viewing developments in Taipei and Beijing? What impact will Taiwan’s election have on the U.S.-China relationship? FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic Congressman who serves as the ranking member of the influential House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Video clips from this event

  • Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic U.S. congressman and the ranking member of the House select committee on China ,  on how Taiwan is viewing U.S. willingness to intervene in the event of a conflict with China.

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi speaks with FP Live about how the United States can rebuild  faith in Congress by passing an aid package and forming consensus across the political spectrum on how to deal with China. 

  • Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, explains how the United States’ partnerships and allies will help Washington build deterrence and deal with so many conflicts at once.   

  • The ranking member of the House select committee on China, Raja Krishnamoorthi, lists the top three points in the committee’s plan to reset the United States’ economic relationship with China.

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