Senior US senator wants to boost pressure on China

4/10/2025 5:48

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Friday he will introduce legislation to deter aggression against Taiwan by identifying targets for economic measures that could be deployed rapidly if China acts against the island.



Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho said his "Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Act" would create a State and Treasury Department-led task force that would identify Chinese military and non-military targets for sanctions, export controls and other economic measures to use against Beijing in case of Chinese aggression against Taiwan.



News of the proposed bill comes ahead of an expected meeting this month between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with the U.S. leader seeking to conclude a major trade deal with Washington's biggest economic and geopolitical rival.



China claims the democratically governed island as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.



Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years.