Ocasio-Cortez’s Remarks at Munich Security Conference

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) faced some scrutiny during her speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, particularly when she indicated she would not support Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

In her response to a question from Bloomberg TV host Francine Laqua, Ocasio-Cortez remarked, “Well, I think this is very, you know, a long-standing policy of the United States.” It seemed like she was trying to gather her thoughts, struggling a bit with her words.

She further stated, “What we want is to never end up in that situation,” emphasizing the desire to avoid conflict altogether.

China has consistently asserted its claim over Taiwan, despite the fact that Taiwan operates with its own government, military, and currency. Recently, the Chinese military held significant exercises around Taiwan, which raised alarms about a potential invasion.

This military maneuver was labeled by China’s Communist Party as a “stern warning,” particularly after the U.S. approved a major arms sale to Taiwan worth $11 billion. Historically, the U.S. stance on military intervention in such conflicts has been somewhat unclear.

Ocasio-Cortez’s comments come amid increasing speculation about her potential candidacy for the presidency in 2028. During the event, she seemed to have difficulty pinpointing the most notable shifts in foreign policy during President Trump’s tenure.

When asked about significant changes, she stuttered a bit, saying “The biggest single player?” and shared a light laugh with “The Squad,” as they sought clarification.

She continued, “I think we’re going to zoom out beyond this presidential administration. What we’re seeing is a withdrawal from long-standing international agreements during Trump’s first term, followed by Biden’s return to some of those agreements, like the Paris climate accord. And then, of course, if Trump gets re-elected, we seem to see U.S. foreign policy swayed by partisanship regardless of who’s in office.”

She concluded her remarks by expressing her belief that Trump has not upheld many commitments, particularly concerning foreign aid and the climate agreement.