Key Takeaways
- •Witnesses urged Congress to codify U.S. Taiwan policy, including the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, via resolution to counter PRC manipulation and ensure clarity.
- •Mr. Julian Ku stated that the PRC uses "lawfare" not just to justify force, but to substitute it, coercing Taiwan below the threshold of armed conflict.
- •Rep. Khanna (Democratic-CA-17) pressed witnesses on President Trump's consistency regarding Taiwan's security, citing concerns about bundled arms sales and ambiguous statements.
- •Republicans and Democrats debated the Trump administration's clarity on Taiwan, with Democrats citing concerns and Republicans highlighting increased defense spending and arms sales.
- •Congress was urged to strengthen Taiwan's resilience against gray zone coercion, advance strategic support for upcoming elections, and mobilize international partners against PRC aggression.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held a hearing on February 11, 2026, titled "Lies, Lawfare, and Leverage: The CCP’s Gaslighting and Manipulation to Marginalize Taiwan." Led by Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI-2) and Ranking Member Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), the hearing focused on the CCP’s non-military aggression against Taiwan, specifically its use of "gray zone" tactics, economic coercion, and "lawfare" to isolate the island and undermine its democratic legitimacy. The committee sought to examine how the United States can better support Taiwan’s resilience against these incremental threats that fall below the threshold of armed conflict.
Key Testimony
The hearing featured testimony from three prominent experts: Mr. Julian Ku, a Professor of Constitutional Law at Hofstra University; Ms. Shirley Kan, an independent specialist in Indo-Pacific security; and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, a visiting senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former National Security Council official. Mr. Ku detailed the CCP’s strategy of "lawfare," which he defined as the strategic use of legal rules and institutions to achieve political and military objectives. He argued that Beijing is using law as a substitute for force, specifically by mischaracterizing UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to claim it settled Taiwan’s sovereignty, and by asserting extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction over "Taiwan independence" activities. He warned that these legal maneuvers aim to delegitimize Taiwan’s government and intimidate international supporters.
Overview
Ms. Kan focused on the "gaslighting" of the international community regarding Taiwan’s history and status. She expressed concern that the CCP’s political warfare is finding leverage within Taiwan’s own political system, specifically criticizing the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) for allegedly undermining defense budgets. Furthermore, she raised alarms regarding the U.S. executive branch’s recent shift toward "packaging" arms sales—notifying Congress of multiple programs at once—rather than maintaining a routine, regular notification process, which she argued weakens congressional oversight and the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
Policy Proposals
Dr. Rapp-Hooper emphasized the increasing scale of peacetime coercion in the economic, cyber, and information domains. She warned that the CCP is attempting to shape U.S. policy by pressuring the administration to link Taiwan’s security to ongoing trade negotiations. She argued that any perception of Taiwan being used as a "bargaining chip" could demoralize the Taiwanese people and erode the credibility of U.S. alliances. She proposed eight specific policy recommendations, including codifying the Six Assurances into law and mandating a strategy for gray zone support in the next National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Overview
The hearing highlighted significant partisan tension regarding the Trump administration’s current approach to China and Taiwan. Ranking Member Khanna and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-6) expressed deep concern over the omission of Taiwan from the most recent National Defense Strategy (NDS) and criticized President Trump’s rhetoric, which they suggested treated Taiwan’s status as negotiable. Rep. Moulton cited former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger to argue that the current administration’s posture was less resolute than its predecessor. Conversely, Chairman Moolenaar and Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6) defended the administration, pointing to the record-breaking $11 billion arms sale approved in December 2025 and the $15.6 billion Pacific Deterrence Initiative as evidence of "peace through strength." Rep. Barr argued that enhanced military-to-military communication is a tool of deterrence, not appeasement.
Key Testimony
Economic and sector-specific impacts were a major theme. Rep. Zachary Nunn (IA-3) and Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-4) discussed the CCP’s targeted economic retaliation, such as the ban on Taiwanese pineapples and inspections of agricultural goods, which are used to influence local elections. The semiconductor industry was also highlighted, with Rep. Stanton noting that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has pledged over $165 billion in investment in Arizona. Witnesses and members agreed that the U.S. must help Taiwan build "economic resilience" by identifying alternative markets for its agricultural, fishery, and construction exports to mitigate the impact of CCP sanctions.
Policy Proposals
Several policy proposals were debated, including the "Porcupine Act" to expedite arms deliveries and the "Six Assurances Act" to formalize long-standing diplomatic promises. Mr. Ku recommended that U.S. courts refuse to recognize PRC legal judgments that are part of a coercive political strategy. Dr. Rapp-Hooper urged Congress to pass a bipartisan resolution reaffirming all elements of U.S. Taiwan policy—including the TRA, the Six Assurances, and the Taiwan Travel Act—to prevent the CCP from "relitigating" these terms during trade talks.
Notable Exchanges
Notable exchanges occurred when Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) questioned the signal sent to allies when the U.S. administration reportedly told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to "stop provoking China" regarding Taiwan. Dr. Rapp-Hooper responded that such signals could embolden Beijing and drive a wedge into the U.S.-Japan alliance. Additionally, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-28) pressed Mr. Ku on whether the U.S. had ever "sided" with the CCP; Mr. Ku clarified that while the U.S. hasn't actively sided with Beijing, it has often "neglected to fight back" against the CCP’s bureaucratic creep within international organizations like the UN.
Overview
The hearing concluded with a call for continued bipartisan oversight. Chairman Moolenaar noted that questions for the record would be due in one week, and members expressed a desire to work on a joint resolution to reaffirm U.S. commitments ahead of a planned congressional delegation to Taiwan in April. Organizations mentioned during the proceedings included the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the G7, APEC, the Kuomintang (KMT), the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
Transcript
...nation's support of Taiwan is grounded in bipartisanship, and I hope that tradition will continue. The staff on your side has been outstanding under the leadership of Raja Krishnamoorthi and with a track record of doing tremendous work together with our team, and we look forward to working together in the months ahead. I also want to take a moment to welcome Ambassador Yui, Alexander Yui from Taiwan, who is joining us this morning. Welcome, Ambassador. That illustrates both the bipartisan nature of this relationship and the steadfast relationship between the United States and Taiwan. One of the committee's most recent bipartisan efforts was the Ten More for Taiwan report we released in December, which focused on how we can strengthen our nation's security partnership with Taiwan. The report, coincidentally, was released the same week the Trump administration approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, demonstrating a continued commitment to peace through strength in the Taiwan Strait. The sale upset the CCP, and it responded with aggressive military drills meant to intimidate Taiwan and its democratically elected government. We're all fully aware of the threat that a PLA military invasion of Taiwan poses. Today, in this hearing, the Select Committee on China will examine the CCP's non-military aggression against Taiwan. Taiwan is a vibrant democratic society, a crucial part of world supply chains, and a close partner of the United States. But make no mistake, even in the absence of a military invasion, the CCP has no interest in peace. It seeks to dominate Taiwan and the freedom-loving people who live there. It wishes to subject the people of Taiwan to the same loss of freedom and human rights the world has seen occur in Hong Kong, where just this week, a court issued the tragic decision to give Jimmy Lai what is essentially a death sentence. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the CCP is willing to use any weapon it can to threaten Taiwanese society and security. Through economic coercion, legal manipulation, the exploitation of international organizations, and lies about the history, China seeks to isolate Taiwan and draw it closer into its orbit. The party has a clear plan: weaken Taiwan's resolve, undermine its democratic institutions, and manipulate the information the people of Taiwan see and hear. The CCP's economic and trade coercion has forced targeted export bans, such as a ban on Taiwanese pineapples, import inspections, tourism restrictions, and the mislabeling of Taiwan by international companies, including airlines and hotel chains. It launches millions of cyberattacks each day on the island. It co-opts local media and business leaders and deploys misinformation and deepfakes to target Taiwanese politicians and the island's sovereignty. The CCP even wants the world to believe that it has a historic tie to Taiwan, but never in history has the CCP ruled Taiwan. The CCP's gaslighting and gray zone tactics reflect a doctrine of incremental aggression. They destabilize Taiwan's democratic government and allow China to shift the balance of power without triggering formal war. If left unchecked, these tactics risk hollowing out the island's democracy long before a single PLA soldier ever sets foot on Taiwan. Now, as America prepares to mark its 250th anniversary next year, and Taiwan approaches 30 years since its first direct presidential election, our democracies remind the entire world of one crucial fact: democracy is not an accident. It's a choice, and one that is renewed by every generation. This shared commitment is exactly why Congress continues to strengthen its ties with Taiwan across every domain: diplomatically, economically, and with peace through strength. The coming years will be decisive in shaping Beijing's calculations. We cannot afford complacency, and our message must remain clear: America's commitment to peace, stability, and Taiwan's self-determination is bipartisan and unwavering. That's why Congress will act decisively alongside our allies to deter CCP coercion, defend democratic values, and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. And with that, I now recognize my friend, the ranking member, Raja Krishnamoorthi, for his opening statement.
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