House Select Committee Warns: "The Window to Deter War with China is Closing Fast"

May 21, 2025
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a high-stakes hearing last week, the House Select Committee on China delivered an urgent message: the clock is ticking to stop a war in the Indo-Pacific—and this Congress may be America’s last full chance to do it.

Hearing Recap and Summary:

Chairman John Moolenaar didn’t mince words, saying, “2027 is not an American date but a Chinese one,” referencing Xi Jinping’s order for the PLA to be ready to take Taiwan by force. "Deterrence delayed is deterrence denied."

Regarding the threat of war in the Indo-Pacific, Chairman Moolenaar continued with, “We are not seeking war. We are trying to prevent one. And prevention only works if Xi believes that the cost of aggression is too high to bear.”

Retired General Charles Flynn, former head of U.S. Army Pacific, said the threat of invasion is no longer distant or theoretical. “You can't invade Taiwan unless you can generate an invasion force—and that is what we must prevent.”

Flynn warned that the U.S. has overinvested in sea and air power while neglecting land-based forces that can actually deny the PLA its objective, “the PLA does not fear our ships and aircraft... What it fears is a credible force that can counter its Army... before it ever reaches Taiwan.”

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery added that China is preparing to strike not just with missiles—but with malware and economic coercion, “America’s ability to deter China is withering. And, thus, the risk of a conflict is growing.Taiwan is too small to handle the Chinese challenge alone. The stories of egregious foreign military sales delays are not anecdotal. They are persistent.”

Former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell praised the Committee’s bipartisan leadership and said allies around the world are watching how America responds, "the real challenge that we face—if we have a faltering of our will... that is what China wants. We must keep our capabilities shifting more of our capacity to the Indo-Pacific, recognizing that this is where the ultimate challenge to American power is in the 21st century.”

With the 2027 deadline looming, members and witnesses alike called for immediate action to build up allied land power, reinforce Taiwan’s defenses, harden U.S. cyber infrastructure, and accelerate weapons deliveries. 

“This hearing is part of that,” said Moolenaar. “And I thank our witnesses for helping us get it right.”

Why Defending Taiwan is Good for America

  1. Protects a democratic ally: Taiwan is a vibrant, free democracy and a model of political freedom in Asia. Supporting Taiwan is a stand for liberty against authoritarianism.
  2. Secures U.S. economic interests: Taiwan is one of America’s largest trading partners and a critical buyer of U.S. goods like corn and soybeans.
  3. Preserves global supply chains: Taiwan produces the world’s most advanced semiconductors. Losing access would trigger an “immediate Great Depression” in the U.S. and cause $10 trillion in global economic losses—more devastating than COVID.
  4. Maintains peace in the Indo-Pacific: If the CCP takes Taiwan, it would upend the entire security balance in Asia, threatening other allies like Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.
  5. Signals U.S. commitment to allies: Standing with Taiwan strengthens America’s credibility with other partners in Asia and Europe. A failure to defend Taiwan would erode trust in U.S. security guarantees globally.
  6. Deters future aggression: If Xi Jinping thinks he can take Taiwan without serious consequences, he’s more likely to act. Strong deterrence now reduces the chances of war later.

Why Americans Should Care About a Taiwan Invasion:

  1. Jobs and livelihoods are at stake: From Midwest farmers selling soy to Taiwan, to engineers working in fabs funded by Taiwan’s investment, millions of American jobs are tied to this relationship.
  2. Economic collapse risk: A war over Taiwan would destroy supply chains, spike inflation, crash markets, and devastate everyday American households.
  3. National security threat: Losing Taiwan would give China dominance over critical tech and strategic waterways, threatening U.S. freedom of action and weakening deterrence in the Pacific.
  4. Moral clarity: Standing with Taiwan means standing against genocide, authoritarianism, and coercive aggression. It affirms American values of democracy and freedom.
  5. Cost of inaction is higher than cost of defense: Deterring a war is cheaper—in blood and treasure—than fighting one. Posture, capability, and will today prevent tragedy tomorrow

###