WASHNGTON-U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on China's military exercises in the Taiwan Strait:

"These very aggressive maneuvers by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are dangerous and unacceptable. It is another reminder that we have entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators Xi Jinping of China and Putin of Russia. They are increasingly isolated and dangerous, driven by historical grievances, paranoid about their democratic neighbors, and willing to use military force and other aggressive actions to crush the citizens of such countries as we are seeing in the Taiwan Strait and Ukraine. These dangerous dictators are increasingly working together to pursue their aggressive goals, and they are trying to split the United States from our allies.

"We must wake up to the fact that this new era of authoritarian aggression will likely be with us for decades. We need to face it with strategic resolve and confidence. We have many comparative advantages relative to these dictatorships, if we are wise enough to utilize and strengthen them: our global network of allies; our lethal military; our world-class supplies of energy, minerals and metals; our dynamic economy; and, most importantly, our democratic values and our commitment to freedom and liberty. It's critical the Biden administration leverage these strategic advantages.

"Unfortunately, that has not happened in many areas under this administration, such as the President's weak defense budgets and his policies that undermine America's energy and critical mineral production. This is exactly the wrong signal to be sending to Putin and Xi.

"As for immediate actions we should take right now as it relates to Taiwan, in addition to American military strength, we need to make clear to Xi the true economic costs of any military invasion of Taiwan. This is exactly why, earlier this year, I introduced the STAND with Taiwan Act, which would mandate comprehensive and crippling economic and financial sanctions against the CCP and key sectors of China's economy if the People's Liberation Army initiates a military invasion of the island democracy. Congress needs to pass my bill as soon as possible."

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