Republicans, who took control of the House of Representatives last month, have pushed a hard line in dealings with Beijing, but it is one of the few truly bipartisan sentiments in the deeply divided US Congress.
Biden touted legislation passed last year with strong support from both his fellow Democrats and Republicans that boosted the US semiconductor industry, and promised more.
“I will make no apologies that we are investing to make America strong. Investing in American innovation, in industries that will define the future, that China intends to be dominating,” Biden said.
Democrats have joined Republicans in demanding more information about the balloon and the Biden administration’s policy toward the government in Beijing.
The White House has taken a more nuanced approach, seeking to tamp down tensions with China that flared in August when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, visited Taiwan.
Pelosi’s visit prompted Beijing to conduct military drills near the Chinese-claimed island. Tensions could spike again if the new House speaker, Republican Kevin McCarthy, visits Taiwan as expected this year.
Seven weeks after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy addressed lawmakers from the same podium, Biden also denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and touted US support for the government in Kyiv.
Congress has approved more than US$100 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine and partner nations since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022.
“Together we did what America always does at our best. We led. We united NATO. We built a global coalition,” Biden said, vowing to stand with Ukraine “as long as it takes”.
A few Republicans – led by those most closely aligned to former President Donald Trump – have questioned whether Washington should keep sending so much money to the government in Kyiv.
But most of the party – including its leaders and top members of national security committees in Congress – expect the money to continue. Biden’s comments about Ukraine were met with loud applause and cheers from both Republicans and Democrats.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
