Taiwan intercepted dozens of military aircraft from communist China on Sunday as Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration is seemingly being tested simultaneously by authoritarian regimes around the world, who many experts say see weakness in Biden.
“The latest Chinese mission included 34 fighters plus four electronic warfare aircraft and a single bomber,” Reuters reported. “Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.”
The news comes as war appears imminent in Eastern Europe with U.S. officials saying that Russia is likely to launch an invasion into Ukraine as soon as this week.
Former Secretary of State and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned during an interview on Sunday that America’s enemies around the world, including China, were watching to see how the Biden administration responded to Russia’s aggression.
“They’re watching to see if this administration has the resolve and the steel to use all of its tools to preserve sovereignty for a nation like Ukraine,” he said. “I promise you not only are Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim and the Ayatollah watching, but so are the people of Taiwan, the Iranian people, and the Chinese people as well.”
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed Pompeo’s remarks on Sunday, saying that what happens in Ukraine “has broader global ramifications.”
“It’s about China. It’s about President Xi and Taiwan. It’s about the Ayatollah and the bomb,” he said. “We’re seen as weak right now because of President Biden.”
The Biden administration reportedly indicated that it will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens from Ukraine amid rapidly deteriorating conditions.
“Given that the President has said military action by Russia could come at any time, the U.S. government will not be in a position to evacuate U.S. citizens.” Biden’s State Department said, according to Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin. “So U.S. citizens, currently present in Ukraine should plan accordingly.”
The news came as the Biden administration ordered the families of all American personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Sunday to immediately leave the country.
“The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine’s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, regularly occur throughout Ukraine, including in Kyiv,” the U.S. State Department said. “Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in Ukraine due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk.”
A separate report on Sunday indicated that Biden was considering deploying U.S. forces to Eastern Europe in an apparent attempt to not appear weak, although many experts warn that it is too little too late.
The report said that senior military officials told Biden that he could deploy up to 5,000 U.S. troops to the region with the ability to ramp that number up “tenfold if things deteriorate.” Biden is expected to make a decision as early as this week about what course of action he will take.