Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the 62nd Annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, delivering a 40-second-long, noncommittal response to a question about U.S. military support for Taiwan if China were to act militarily.

Bloomberg Television’s Francine Lacqua asked, “Would and should the U.S. actually commit U.S. troops to defend Taiwan if China were to move?” Ocasio-Cortez replied with a rambling answer, stating the issue involves “a very long-standing policy of the United States” and emphasizing a desire to avoid confrontation, without providing a yes-or-no position.

The congresswoman, a prominent member of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing and a rumored 2028 presidential candidate, framed her response around economic research and global positioning rather than directly addressing military commitments.

Ocasio-Cortez also commented on U.S. aid to Israel, suggesting that unconditional assistance may have “enabled a genocide in Gaza,” drawing criticism from both international affairs experts and fellow Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania called the remarks factually inaccurate, noting that Israel was engaged in an existential conflict and that no genocide had occurred in Gaza.

The Munich Security Conference, widely regarded as a leading forum for global security discussions, has hosted international leaders to address pressing defense and diplomatic issues. Analysts noted that Ocasio-Cortez is better known for domestic economic policy positions than foreign affairs, reflecting a pattern seen since her first congressional campaign in 2018, when she admitted, “I’m not the expert in geopolitics,” in reference to Israel and Palestine.

Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her statements at the conference.