Waltz Questions DOD Plan in Indo-Pacific Region

Rep. Michael Waltz

This week, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) took part in a hearing, questioning numerous U.S. military officials. During the hearing, Rep. Waltz questioned the officials on the Department of Defense's (DOD) programs, policies, and priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the House Armed Services full committee hearing, Rep. Waltz questioned top U.S. military officials, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedediah Royal and Commander of the U.S. Inso-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino.

Waltz, a critic of Chairman Xi Jinping and the Communist Chinese Party CCP), took issue with recent comments that Chairman Xi made to the Twentieth Party Congress regarding the reunification with Taiwan. “Chairman Xi has said that reunification with Taiwan, one way or another, including the use of military force... is inevitable. He said he is not going to pass it along to the next generation. He basically said he’s going to do it on his watch. So, I think we have got a lot of wishful thinking going on just like we had a lot of wishful thinking going on in the run up to Ukraine that force will not be employed,” Waltz warned.

Waltz also referenced a trip he took to the Indo-Pacific region, asking Admiral Aquilino if “greater clarity on our end, on the U.S.’s end, on our intentions, will help drive clarity with our allies?”

“One of the key takeaways that I continue to take is the ambiguity amongst our allies from these trips. Key allies. Allies that if we don’t have use of their airspace, of their ports, of their bases, I don’t see how we effectively come to the aid of the defense of Taiwan,” Waltz expressed.

China and the United States have been involved in a tense rivalry, and as China sets its sights on Taiwan, lawmakers questions the role the U.S. will play in defending Taiwan against the CCP.

To watch Waltz's comments during the hearing, click here.