Opinion | Washington and Taiwan: 'Friends until the end'?
By Augustus K. Yeung
Introduction
Since when have wishy-washy Washington and tick-tack-toe Taiwan become "friends until the end"? This way, making friends with Taiwan, a runaway province of China, implies a pledge to see this friendship to the very end.
That's what Taiwan wants; a drowning person will hang on anything to stay alive. Is Washington prepared to see this trumped-up relationship through—to eternality?
It's an odd couple, if they ever decide to go together for good, waiting to be decoupled before they ever become a true couple. That's more like it.
Washington by nature is a dandy; "dedication" is not in the dictionary. Pragmatic as the Americans are, Taiwan at best is being treated as a trump card to be played to annoy, to sidetrack, or to keep Beijing unproductively busy. That's all.
But the Chinese diplomats and the foreign spokesman, for the traditional lack of sense of humor, are taking this episode, or any US-Taiwan relations very seriously—as an issue, or a "crisis" which warrants special attention:
Former Ambassador to U.S. Cites UN Resolution
Beijing would never allow Taipei to participate in the United Nations, a former top Chinese diplomat said, as tensions flared after US and Taiwanese officials discussed a 'meaningful' UN role for Taiwan, the self-ruled island, according to the Post (Oct. 26).
"This totally went against the tide of history," Cui Tiankai said in his first public appearance since he stepped down in June as China's longest-serving ambassador to the United States.
"UN Resolution 2758—passed five decades ago – made it clear that there's only one China in the world, and it was also recognized by the Americans, so why are they now trying to reverse this?" Cui said when asked about Washington's move to upgrade its relationship with Taiwan. "There must be another motive, which will never win out—and we will never let it."
Mr. Cui was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Beijing—marking its 50th anniversary since China took a seat at the UN in 1971, a year of significance.
Critics Accused Beijing of Misusing UN Resolution
Critics, however, have accused Beijing of "misusing" the UN Resolution 2758 as a way to block Taiwan from international affairs and have called for the island of 23.5 million people to get "a bigger global voice".
On Sunday, the US State Department issued a statement, stating that its "high-level representatives" had on Friday met officials from Taiwan's foreign ministry and discussed "expanding Taiwan's participation at the United Nations and in other international forums."
The talks on Friday (Oct.22) "focused on supporting Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully at the UN and contributes its valuable expertise to address global challenges, including global public health, the environment and climate change, development assistance, technical standards, and economic cooperation," said the US statement.
Taiwan's Participation Should Follow One-China Policy
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said emphatically that Taipei's participation in any international bodies should strictly follow the one-China policy.
"The Taiwanese authorities' attempts to use foreigners to…expand their so-called international space is about expanding the space for Taiwan's independence and secession, which is doomed to fail," Wang warned.
He urged the U.S. to stop official interaction with the Taiwanese authorities, to stop making irresponsible comments and to stop sending false signals to Taiwanese independence forces.
The spokesman also said that the US should not be doing things that would damage Sino-US relations and undermine the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. ("Beijing 'will never allow Taipei role in the UN.'" South China Morning Post, October 26, 2021.)
Biden to Adopt a 'More Cautious' Policy
The whole U.S. foreign policy towards China pivots on the perception that China is a rival, a pivotal decision that is well-established by now after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and pivots on the Asia-Pacific. To checkmate China, America under Joe Biden is prepared to use two pieces or pawns in the chess game: Taiwan and the South China Sea.
As for how much screw pressure to put on China will have to depend on the situation at home, i.e., the oncoming U.S. election: If the Democrats win the majority in Congress, then the Biden administration will go easy on China, its rival, which the hawkish Republicans love to hate. Hawks push China and U.S. toward lasting split, for example John Bolton, Trump's top aide wants a long-term rupture. ("Revisit the 'One- China Policy" Op-ed, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, January 18, 2017.)
"The US military operations in the South China Sea have affected Sino-US relations and increased tensions," said Wu Shicun, head of the National Institute of South China Sea Studies, which advises the government.
Conclusion
Washington and Taiwan's relationship means no more than a matter of convenience, not to mention being "friends until the end". With America's mentality, with pragmaticism in mind, who wants Taiwan for a friend until the very end.
After all, defending a waning Taiwan is a losing proposition; I'll think about it tomorrow, another day.
(Source: "Beijing 'will never allow Taipei role in the UN.'" South China Morning Post, October 26, 2021.)
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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