Kevin McCarthy showed strong leadership while rejecting China’s bullying | Opinion

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is to be commended for his recent leadership on the world stage, as he hosted the president of Taiwan to a meeting in Southern California.

McCarthy, the Republican from Bakersfield whose district now stretches to Fresno County, invited President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan to a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. He did so despite warnings from communist Chinese leaders that the gathering must not take place.

China’s leaders consider Taiwan to be part of their nation. The United States recognizes the “one nation” view, but also maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan and provides military support as well. The United States has pledged to defend Taiwan should China attack it.

Last year, then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan and spent several days there, fulfilling a long-held desire she had to see the country. Chinese leaders were furious over Pelosi’s trip and held days of military exercises around the island after she left.

In advance of the McCarthy-Tsai meeting, Chinese leaders termed the meeting a “provocation” and threatened “countermeasures” should it be held. It remains to be seen what China will do now in the aftermath of McCarthy’s meeting with Tsai. But he made it clear he would not acquiesce to Chinese demands over Taiwan.

“I am the speaker of the House,” McCarthy said afterward.. “There is no place that China’s going to tell me where I can go and who I can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend.”

Bipartisanship at work

Both Republican and Democratic members of the House attended the gathering at the Reagan Library, making for a strong moment of bipartisanship.

McCarthy upheld a unified front by hosting Tsai months after Pelosi’s trip. The message to communist Chinese leaders could not be missed: America’s leaders, across the political spectrum, stand with Taiwan.

Such a clear demonstration is even more striking given the backsliding of some GOP members when it comes to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A group of about a dozen far-right legislators in February put forward a “Ukraine Fatigue” resolution. It calls on the U.S. to “end its military and financial aid to Ukraine” and told combatants to “reach a peace agreement.”

McCarthy himself has signaled American support for Ukraine cannot be a “blank check.” But it must be unwavering. Just as Taiwan is a democracy, so too is Ukraine and the rest of Europe. McCarthy must stand against authoritarians wherever they may be.

Homegrown challenges await

Hosting the Taiwan president may be easier than some of the tough battles ahead for McCarthy, notably dealing with America’s debt ceiling, which comes to a head in a few months. It will take all of McCarthy’s political skills to hammer out a workable plan that does not shut down the government he helps lead.

In those moments, McCarthy should remember his time at the Reagan Library with Tsai as an example of bipartisan strength. That can help inform his leadership on the domestic problems facing the nation.