Republican Senator tells Biden's Secretary of State it's now time to start prioritizing sending arms to Taiwan over Ukraine 

• Josh Hawley, a longtime China hawk, argued Chinese encroachment on the Indo-Pacific was a bigger threat to the U.S. than Russia's invasion of Ukraine 
• Hawley said the U.S.'s 10 months-long effort to arm Ukraine against Vladimir Putin's aggression was 'impeding' the U.S.'s ability to prevent war in Asia
• Hawley pointed to Blinken's own claim that China was pursuing 'reunification' with Taiwan on a 'much faster timeline' than originally thought
• 'The wheels of history are rolling toward China's reunification' with Taiwan, Xi said in October at Communist Party Congress, which gathers every five years

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday asking him to begin prioritizing sending arms to Taiwan over Ukraine. 

Hawley, a longtime China hawk, argued Chinese encroachment on the Indo-Pacific was a bigger threat to the U.S. than Russia's invasion of Ukraine.   

Hawley said that the U.S.'s 10 months-long effort to arm Ukraine against Vladimir Putin's aggression was 'impeding' the U.S.'s ability to prevent war in Asia.  

'Taiwan is Beijing’s next step toward dominating the Indo-Pacific region. If Beijing succeeds, it would have dire ramifications for Americans’ national security, as well as our economic security and freedom of action,' the Missouri Republican wrote in his letter. 

'Averting the real and growing threat from China requires us to expedite delivery to Taiwan of the weapons it needs to defend itself—provided Taiwan commits to an asymmetric defense, significantly increases its own defense spending, and pursues necessary defense reforms. Your Administration, however, is doing the reverse. You are prioritizing arms to Ukraine over our vital security interests in Asia.' 

Hawley pointed to Blinken's own claim that China was pursuing 'reunification' with Taiwan on a 'much faster timeline' than originally thought. 

'The wheels of history are rolling toward China's reunification' with Taiwan, Xi said in October at the Communist Party Congress, which gathers every five years. 

He said that while China preferred peaceful measures to retake the island democracy of 23 million people it would not rule out 'the option to take all necessary measures.' 

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines recently said that China would pose an 'acute' threat to Taiwan somewhere between now and 2030. 

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday warned in October that China could invade as soon as this year or next, while former commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Phil Davidson testified that Beijing may invade Taiwan as soon as 2027. 

Hawley cited a Wall Street Journal report finding the weapons sales backlog to Taiwan has grown to nearly $19 billion. 

Hawley's push likely won't get far on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have approved some $66 billion in Ukraine aid. On Wednesday, all senators will be invited to a classified briefing on the situation in Ukraine. 

The White House has requested another $38 billion for Ukraine as lawmakers hash out the details of a government funding bill. 

Congress is poised to take up a massive defense spending bill, the yearly NDAA, which could include billions in arms sales for Taiwan.  

Last month after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Biden said he saw no imminent threat China would launch an offensive against Taiwan. 

However, Chinese media were briefed that Xi told Biden the island was the 'first red line' in their relationship.

'I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War,' said Biden at a news conference after the meeting ended.

'I've met many times with Xi Jinping, and we were candid and clear with one another across the board.

'And I do not think there's any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan.

 But Xi reportedly laid down a hard line in their meeting.

'The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations,' Xi was reported to have told Biden, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Taiwan is a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, which was angered by Biden's repeated comments that the U.S would defend the island if it was attacked.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit in August further enflamed relations.

Biden said he spelled out the U.S. position.

'I made it clear that our policy in Taiwan has not changed at all. It's the same exact position we've had,' he said.

The U.S. has long pursued a policy of strategic ambiguity, refusing to say whether it would come to the island democracy's defense in the case of war.