Chinese President Xi Jinping invading Taiwan could force the U.S., currently led by President Biden, into war, it was warned. (Getty Images)
House Taiwan Caucus co-chair Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who is also on the trip, told Fox News Digital: "If the United States were to not show up in a conflict, or if we were to lose a conflict, and if the island were overrun, it would drive a wedge between our other allies – Japan, and the Philippines – and the broader Indo-Pacific in ways that would have massive negative repercussions."
He pointed out that Taiwan is one of the few U.S.-friendly islands in the Pacific that sits between China and the U.S. West Coast. Barr said a takeover of Taiwan would "embolden" China to push its territorial claims further towards U.S. soil and its neighboring territories.
"So, the whole security structure of the world would be altered in a very negative way," he said.
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Dr. I-Chung Lai, president of The Prospect Foundation, a Taiwanese think tank, argued that a direct war between the U.S. and China could kick off if China took over Taiwan and was emboldened to hit U.S. military units elsewhere in the region.
He noted that China would feel threatened by the possible existence of a U.S. B-21 stealth bomber in the region – the development and testing of the high-tech aircraft has already prompted criticism from Beijing’s state media.
The B-21 Raider goes through testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
"What would happen if there was any sort of invasion…not just Taiwan would shut down, but you'd see a major shutdown in a lot of parts of the world, including parts of the United States," said delegation member Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.
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"Look what happened in COVID. Look what happened when you drove by and wanted to buy a vehicle, the car dealerships were completely empty. When you needed an appliance, [stores] were completely empty. And that was just because of supply chain slowdowns."
He pointed out that semiconductors are used in everything from everyday kitchen appliances to smartphones.
"This would be an actual stop of everything – not a slowdown – a stop of these types of semiconductor chips that are literally in almost everything we use right now," Panetta said. "That's what people need to realize that when they pick up their iPhone or go to the refrigerator or get in their car, most likely that semiconductor chip is coming from Taiwan."
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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