China Exaggerates Taiwan Independence Claims to Justify Aggression, Lawmaker Says

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, offers comments during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on “Ending the U.S. Military Mission in Afghanistan” in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Sept. 29, 2021. Rod Lamkey/Pool via Getty ImagesBeijing is hyping up rhetoric that Taiwan is seeking independence to rationalize its ambition to annex Taiwan, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) told the Atlantic Council on Nov. 6.Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, had a wide-ranging discussion during the event, including topics related to China and Taiwan, drawing on insights from his recent trip to China as head of a bipartisan congressional delegation.