Lawmaker who just met with Pacific allies implores Biden to be clearer on Taiwan strategy

New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who just returned from bipartisan congressional meetings with Pacific allies, pleaded Wednesday with President Joe Biden to be far more forceful about what the United States plans to do to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

"The United States needs to be much more clear about where it stands. Strategic ambiguity, in my opinion, is not working," Rep. Lawler told the "Just the news, No Noise" TV show.

Lawler said the Biden administration cannot repeat the failures it racked up in failing to deter the Russian invasion of Ukraine when it comes to Beijing's aggression with Taipei.

"We need to be working together economically and militarily to make it very clear to President Xi that any such invasion of Taiwan or blockade in the Strait of Taiwan is not only unacceptable, but would be met with severe consequences," he stated. 

He added that training Taiwan militarily should also be something that the United States prioritizes.

"I think what is most critical is to get Taiwan the weapons and the training that they need to protect themselves and also build the economic relationships on trade and on sanctions potentially against China, and also on manufacturing of things like semiconductors, which are critical to the global economy," Lawler continued. 

Lawler emphasized the fact that allies of America are looking for strong leadership during this time.

"What our allies in the region are looking for is for American leadership and for us to bring together a coalition- a NATO like coalition in the Indo- Pacific that really will ensure the balance of power there and ensure stability in the Strait of Taiwan," he said.