U.S. lawmaker to introduce bill to deter China attack on Taiwan

Washington, July 19 (CNA) Republican House Representative Ted Yoho said over the weekend that he plans to put forth a bill that would authorize the president of the United States to respond with military force if China decides to attack Taiwan.

"We are introducing a bill next week that's going to be called the Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act," Yoho said in an interview on Fox Business Network last Friday.

The Republican congressman, who is a member of the U.S. House of Representative's subcommittee on Asian affairs, made the announcement in response to a question on whether the American government was doing enough to back Taiwan amid China's constant threats.

"This [Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act] is something that's going to lay very clear what our intent is," said Yoho, a vocal supporter of Taiwan. "In fact, it will go to the point where it authorizes an AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) if China invades Taiwan, and it'll be a sunset for five years, that AUMF, that would authorize the president to use force."

He noted that under the U.S.' current Taiwan Relations Act that took effect in 1979, the U.S. is committed to sell Taiwan enough weapons to defend itself.

"But when Xi Jinping has announced that he's ready to draw blood over Taiwan and reunify them, they forgot to ask Taiwan," Yoho said. "Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China, and nor do they want to."

Yoho was being interviewed on a program called "Red Storm," hosted by Lou Dobbs, which focused on China's expansionist ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region.