TAIPEI [Taiwan], US senators on Monday called for strengthening Taiwan's deterrence against China during a bipartisan congressional visit to the self-ruled island, just days after Beijing attacked the island with major military drills, according to CNN. Promised. Last week's exercise was the largest conducted by China in more than a year, and it came just days after Taiwan swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te Lai Ching-te asserted the island's sovereignty and distinctive character. has been openly despised by Beijing for promoting At a news conference in Taipei, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the exercises as "intimidation tactics to punish democracy" and called for an increase in defensive arms supplies from the U.S., CNN reported. Promised to strengthen Taiwan's defense. McCaul pledged that Taiwan would get the weapons purchased from the US "as soon as possible", citing the recently approved US House foreign military funding for Taiwan. "We are moving forward on those weapons systems. Want to see fast."But they are coming forward," McCaul said, referring to China, according to CNN, "President Lai and I have always had a very serious and yet very serious view of the threat that comes to this island from our neighbor to the north. Serious conversations have taken place." The US maintains strong but informal relations with Taiwan and is required by law to provide the island with weapons for its defense. Despite never ruling Taiwan, China's ruling Communist side considers it part of its territory and threatens to conquer it by force if necessary. China's military began two-day drills last Thursday, sending warships and fighter planes around Taiwan and its outlying islands in what it described as "stern punishment for separatist acts by Taiwan's independent forces," CNN reported. As described. It said the aim of the exercise was to test its ability to "seize power" on the island.