House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul spoke with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of his congressional delegation to Taipei, Taiwan. (Getty Images)
It also comes after China staged some of its most aggressive military drills yet off Taiwan’s coast, sending dozens of warships and planes into the island’s territory in retaliation for comments by its new leader, President Lai Ching-te, expressing support for its independence from Beijing’s ruling Chinese Communist Party.
"These war games to intimidate and protest the election from China are probably the most provocative I've ever seen in terms of the numbers of ships and planes," McCaul said.
He stressed that a full-scale invasion by China could lead to an "electronic shutdown" and an economic spiral not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic threw global markets into a tailspin.
That includes ramifications for Americans in rural, urban and suburban areas, he suggested.
"From the phones, to the car, tractors, everything in your kitchen, our whole military defense," he listed.
Semiconductors are a critical component for a litany of electronics, being used in everything from healthcare to transportation, communications, military systems and everyday-use items like air conditioners, televisions and refrigerators.
HOUSE LAWMAKERS VISIT TAIWAN AS CHINA WARNS US TO STAY OUT
The delegation also met with Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. (Elizabeth Elkind/Fox News Digital)
"They’re very happy, and we’re very pleased we got our emergency supplemental done in time to give them the good news that we are supporting them from a military equipment standpoint," McCaul said. "I gave them some updates on the weapons and some other things we’re doing to help them, but they just wanted me to know that the threat was getting very intense from Chairman Xi."
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The Chinese government had expressly demanded that McCaul and the other lawmakers, which include Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., Joe Wilson, R-S.C., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Andy Barr, R-Ky., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., not make the journey to Taiwan.
"We got a threatening communique telling me I was violating the One China Policy and that there would be consequences for the members, which, they’ve never gone that far," McCaul said. "And now the threat to Taiwan is real for the people of the island…and they’re worried they’re going to be the next shoe to drop."
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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