Lindsay Maizland, Council on Foreign Relations: U.S. Military Support for Taiwan: What’s Changed Under Trump?
The Trump administration has made bold gestures in support of Taiwan, including more frequent movement of U.S. ships in the Taiwan Strait. They come at a time of growing anxiety about the U.S.-China relationship.
For three months in a row this year, U.S. military ships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, seen as a show of support for Taipei and a challenge to Beijing. They are just one aspect of Trump administration’s backing for Taiwan, and combined with China’s more aggressive approach to the democratic island, many analysts fear a cross-strait crisis.
Trump Is Raising the Stakes
In the past nine months, U.S. ships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait six times. During the Obama administration, passages were far less frequent, at just one to three times per year. Even though the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, China is sensitive to the U.S. military’s presence and considers any transits of U.S. ships through the strait “provocative actions.”
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WNU Editor: I disagree with the above analysis that President Trump is raising the stakes. I see China as the one who has raised the stakes (and threats) in the past few years over border disputes and Taiwan belonging to China, and everyone, including the U.S., are now responding.
2 comments:
I can recall when there were artillery exchanges between the two. Quemoy[sp] was China's target. This was in the 50's.
I think we should be prepared to give China a graceful exit, before and if it in fact comes to confrontation. Here's why:
1. From their perspective WE are the aggressors and should stay out of their backyard; from their perspective THEY have a rightful ancestral relation with Taiwan; it would be like Russia selling S-400 to Puerto Rico and constantly sailing north of Puerto Rico and the US coast. I personally wouldn't have a problem with Russians sailing anywhere,especially no problem in international waters, but that's the point of view some will have.
2. Taiwan needs to do a better outreach to the World. If you want to stay free, make your case to the World why. Do a bit of traveling, talk to world leaders about this issue. Maybe this way also Chinese people can understand you better. And perhaps we misunderstand your wishes - maybe you want reunification with China, despite all we hear? But maybe it is true and China bullies other nations not to even receive the head of state of Taiwan, as to not recognize them. So it's a bit similar (not same) like perhaps Palistine?
3. China's midterm future doesn't look great.. so there are internal tensions. The market is contracting, the housing bubble is likely being bought off by a billion+ a day now, and Trump does not back down in the trade war.. on top - and that's not mentioned much - China's expansionist strategy - like many, but especially China's - is based on BUYING favours. They spent and loaned money everywhere. Now they will need to reduce spending and perhaps ask favours back, and they will be even more aggressive in their pursuit. Just like the North Korean bearaeu was more reckless when they needed to get more money. They need to meet their targets or meet their leaders.
So China is losing on a lot of fronts at the moment and has almost no allies it can rely on without money. North Korea is the only one that would stand by China, perhaps.. not even that is sure.. So China must feel surrounded by aggressors (because with all of them there was either a war or border skirmish or trade war or territorial conflict or what have you, it's just coming from all sides) and I know firsthand that many Chinese think we "the West", but also parts of Asia (Japan, India) have held China down and always want what's bad for them. I really think many think that, even in today's generation. There is a -fierce- patriotism in China, 1.5bn strong... think of the tragedy even if we were to win.
So if China were to finally play fair on trade, I think we should give them a bit of space to think and perhaps also see our ways over time. It's been hundreds of years really, at least decades, but if they still need a few more decades to trust the West, that's fine with me.. but the "stealing" must stop. The spying / cyber attacks must stop. We just can't go on like this. Especially not if there is a hyper militarization of the South China sea, with artificial islands - military installations - being built in internationally disputed waters..(for China readers: that feels like our money not only being stolen but then not used for good, but to prepare for war against the international community) so that's the scary part, that they just ignore whatever anyone says..
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