Barbara Lee: “First, the executive branch has the ability to determine how the United States engages and manages our relationship with…”

“First, the executive branch has the ability to determine how the United States engages and manages our relationship with Taiwan. It had that ability during the last administration. That is because Congress left it to the executive branch to conduct diplomacy and the recognition or nonrecognition of foreign states and governments in this case. If you wish to legislate how the executive branch should engage with Taiwan, then markup a separate bill in the Foreign Affairs Committee that just deals with that. In the absence of that, the executive branch needs to determine how to handle diplomatic engagements abroad. Again, the last administration did just that. It is their job to weigh multiple equities and balance delicate factors that are simply not considered by this amendment today. The gentleman knows that Taiwan is a sensitive geopolitical subject with respect to our relations with the People's Republic of China. That is why we have a Select Committee in the House on it. I think this is something that they could examine, but there is too much at stake to have this amendment decide what the guidelines for engagement will be. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”