A senior House Democrat says he's gotten direct assurance from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Taiwan won't be traded away in any deal with China, which is reassuring news for Taiwan and allies watching U.S.-China relations.

• Congressman Ami Bera, the top Democrat on the House panel covering East Asia and the Pacific, says Rubio confirmed arms sales to Taiwan will never be used as a bargaining chip with Beijing.
• Bera says he's also pushed this message directly to Trump, urging him not to trade Taiwan away in any broader deal with China.
• He criticized Trump for making tariff and Iran-related war decisions without coordinating with Congress, blaming those moves for pushing up gas, food, and housing costs.
• Bera predicts Democrats will win back the House in the November midterms and possibly the Senate, which he says would let him lead the subcommittee overseeing East Asia policy.
• If Democrats take the House, Bera plans to open investigations into Trump family business dealings over potential conflicts of interest, and wants to reaffirm strong U.S. support for Japan given rising tension with China over disputed islands.

Outlook: If Democrats win the House majority in November as Bera expects, expect renewed Congressional pressure to keep Taiwan support firm and new oversight investigations into Trump's business ties.