Wed, Apr 19, 2023 page8

• Taiwan in favorable position as US focuses

  • By James Wang 王景弘
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  Over the past decade, Taiwan, the US and China have demonstrated three clear approaches when interacting with one another.

  China has been seeking a hegemonic position, trying to change the “status quo.” Taiwan has clarified its national identity and it is clear that the US would help Taiwan with its self-defense.

  These approaches have created for Taiwan the most favorable situation since former US president Richard Nixon visited China.

  Defeated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was exiled to Taiwan and has been trapped in the quagmire of “one China” ever since.

  In the 1970s, the KMT did not question the “one China” policy when the US started to engage with China. Hence, in the Shanghai Communique signed by Nixon and former Chinese premier Zhou Enlai (周恩來), Taiwan is specified as a part of China due to the “one China” idea shared by the CCP and the KMT.

  Under the rule of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), the KMT regime claimed itself to be China even after it was no longer the representative of China to the UN. The KMT myth was debunked, but the regime of the Chiangs continued to embrace the fabricated “one China” based on the ideologies of anti-communism and anti-Taiwanese independence. Having adhered to a fabricated national status, the KMT’s rule lacked legitimacy.

  Fortunately, after Taiwan became a democratic country, the legitimacy issue was addressed among Taiwanese, but in the international community, its national status has remained ambiguous. Neither former president Lee Teng-hui’s (李登輝) “special state-to-state relations” stance nor former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) “one country on each side” statement could override the US’ “one China” policy.

  During former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration, the ambiguous “one China” guideline returned. Taiwan’s autonomy was disregarded and its sovereignty downplayed. Moreover, Taiwan’s national defense has been weakened and its economic dependence on China strengthened. In Ma’s time in office, Taiwan stopped competing with China for allies and since then, the danger of being annexed has risen.

  The KMT and the CCP took advantage of shameless academics in the US, disseminating the idea that the US would abandon Taiwan. Taiwan would be annexed eventually, so the US should not waste time defending it, they said.

  Such ideas were shored up by China thanks to Ma, who catered to China’s plan of “opposing Taiwanese independence while prompting unification.”

  President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration has been based on Taiwan’s autonomy. Under her rule, the “one China” policy was diminished. The national status of Taiwan has nothing to do with China.

  However, the KMT and the CCP have started to exploit the sentiment of suspicion over the US’ commitment to Taiwan, trying to damage US-Taiwan affiliations. Through cultural schemes and military threats, Ma has been used as a pawn to resurrect the so-called “1992 consensus” and the “one China” idea.

  During Tsai’s stopover in California this month, she repeatedly declared that Taiwan would not surrender despite China’s constant threat. In turn, regardless of China’s pressure, the US showed its support to clear up the suspicion over its commitment to Taiwan. Taiwan’s status and the US’ strategy have become lucidly unambiguous, and such engagements with one another is in line with the free world’s expectations and the shared interest in peace and security.

  James Wang is a senior journalist.

  Translated by Emma Liu
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