MNI London: US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, speaking at a moderated conversation on the US approach to China at the Brookings Institution in Washington, has said she hopes "China will not use a visit by a member of Congress to Taiwan as a pretext for military action."

• Sherman: “We are committed to support Taiwan in its ability to defend itself. We hope that the PRC does not use a visit by a member of Congress to Taiwan as a pretext for military action.”
• Sherman also confirmed that US officials have maintained contact with their Chinese counterparts throughout the "spy balloon" incident, and she hopes to reschedule the postponed diplomatic trip to Beijing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
• Sherman: “Our communications have not stopped. We hope when conditions make sense that we will be seeing each other face to face again.”
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is widely expected to make a trip to Taiwan this year as part of a hawkish Republican China policy which has included establish a House Select Committee on US-China strategic competition.