Washington's effectiveness at twisting Taiwan's arm hinges on the fractured nature of politics in Taiwan. If the US' latest objections to President Chen Shui-bian's (
When the referendum to enter the UN promoted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) passes it just may mark a watershed moment in Taiwan-US relations.
It could signify the beginning of Taiwanese resolve to reclaim whatever residual control Washington still possesses over Taiwan. Much like holding free elections, referendums are another powerful tool that can be used in the struggle for further democratization.
Making the exercise of what should be a routine democratic process difficult is the inordinate number of external political headwinds. But these dynamics at times work in fortuitous ways, considering that the main catalyst responsible for the present drive for Taiwan's statehood could turn out to be none other than Beijing's relentless compression of Taiwan's international space.
To begin with, Beijing has blocked Taiwan's every move to join international bodies -- including the WHO and the UN -- that make sovereignty a pre-requisite for membership.
Taiwan's efforts to expand its membership in these bodies have invariably failed at the insistence of a ranting and bullying from Beijing.
Further exacerbating Taiwan's isolation and therefore threatening the nation's sovereignty is the dwindling number of nations that recognize Taiwan.
In response, the clamor for an affirmation of sovereignty has risen to an unprecedented level.
Where public sentiment is involved as in this case, further escalation of coercion by Bei-jing and Washington would most likely not only fall on deaf ears, but also cause a backlash.
In addition, the US State Department is reluctant to take Taiwan's democracy seriously.
The fact has not escaped Taiwanese attention that, when Washington forced Chen to make undemocratic promises such as his infamous "four noes and one without," Washington regarded Chen as a dictator much like the Chiangs.
Referendums would be the perfect forum for Taiwanese to make themselves and their democracy heard.
Washington's intention of putting a ceiling on Taiwan's democracy is often explained as necessary for regional stability. In reality, Washington is fully aware that only a sovereign and democratic Taiwan could anchor a stable Western Pacific region as long as China remains under the grip of the Chinese Communist Party.
Washington nonetheless appears to be content with manipulating Beijing's desire to take Taiwan to serve Washington's own interests, while keeping Taiwan's democracy contained.
Meanwhile, the sentiment of Taiwanese remains the wild card over which both Washington and Beijing have scant control.
Huang Jei-hsuan
California
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
In an article published on this page on Tuesday, Kaohsiung-based journalist Julien Oeuillet wrote that “legions of people worldwide would care if a disaster occurred in South Korea or Japan, but the same people would not bat an eyelid if Taiwan disappeared.” That is quite a statement. We are constantly reading about the importance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), hailed in Taiwan as the nation’s “silicon shield” protecting it from hostile foreign forces such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and so crucial to the global supply chain for semiconductors that its loss would cost the global economy US$1
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
Sasha B. Chhabra’s column (“Michelle Yeoh should no longer be welcome,” March 26, page 8) lamented an Instagram post by renowned actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) about her recent visit to “Taipei, China.” It is Chhabra’s opinion that, in response to parroting Beijing’s propaganda about the status of Taiwan, Yeoh should be banned from entering this nation and her films cut off from funding by government-backed agencies, as well as disqualified from competing in the Golden Horse Awards. She and other celebrities, he wrote, must be made to understand “that there are consequences for their actions if they become political pawns of