ICYMI: Kennedy in Newsweek: US must press UK to keep military base out of China hands

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in Newsweek explaining how the United Kingdom's plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, to Mauritius could harm the American military's ability to deter China.

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

"While President Trump was meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, America's most important asset in deterring China is under attack from an unlikely source: leftists at the United Nations and their British sympathizers.

"Officials in the United Kingdom are considering handing over the keys of the Chagos Islands, including the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on the island of Diego Garcia, to Mauritius, an African island nation that lacks any ability to deter China."

. . .

"Mauritius has already shown that it will act in China's interest. Two weeks ago, Mauritius revoked flight permits for Taiwan's presidential aircraft to cross its airspace on a planned trip to visit allies, apparently at China's behest.

"There is no military asset as important as Diego Garcia when it comes to America's ability to deter China, protect Taiwan, and otherwise maintain our interests in the Indo-Pacific. It would be weapons-grade stupid to sit by as the U.K. signs it away to a nation in Xi Jinping's pocket.

"I have a bill that would require Congress to approve any deal ceding sovereignty of Diego Garcia to Mauritius. Until that passes, the Trump administration must maintain its pressure on the U.K. to protect Diego Garcia and our ability to project strength against China."

Read Kennedy's op-ed here.