Nowadays, tensions are increasing in the Taiwan Strait. This growing complexity makes Washington view Taiwan as a crucial strategic asset. The upcoming change in the United States’ view upsets the fragile US-China relationship. The status “quo” means that the US considers Taiwan to be China’s part while Taiwn has few foreign ties and runs its relationship. Even though this situation is not good, it has kept the peace for many years and needs to be protected to prevent a war that would harm the people of Taiwan.
In 1970, the status quo was started. It was the time when President Nixon decided to recognize China instead of Taiwan. He was sure China that the US considered Taiwan to be part of China but kept this vague to protect his political image. Later the relationship became official, considering it proved beneficial for the US interest against the Soviet Union.
Later, President Carter made this relationship official, seeing it as good for US interests against the Soviet Union. Today, with China seen as a rival, the US must remember these past commitments to reduce tensions.
Recently, the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said America is still following and supporting the China One policy. This policy was set at the start of the US-China relationship. It tries to stop either China or Taiwan from changing their current situation and encourages peaceful solutions. The complexity of the US-China relationship is an ineffective way to discuss issues.
China wants the US to recognize its main concerns and improve its relationship first, while the US wants to set certain limits, even though relations are tense.
These two views can be interconnected with each other. For China, Taiwan has many important things. It understands its worries while also sticking to the One China policy. It could assist in improving the partnership between the US and China. While some leaders want more of the involvement of the United States in Taiwan. It includes former US Vice President Mike Pence and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. This involvement could make the situation worse.
Pence, Haley, and the Heritage Foundation want the US to focus on its role in foreign affairs. The concern is that, if Trump wins the election, it could hurt the hurt US relations with many nations. It includes South Korea and Japan. Pence believes that some conservative leaders see Taiwan mainly as countering China instead of focusing on the people living there. Their views are not updated. Particularly when Pence talks about General MacArthur’s ideas on Taiwan from 1950, even though MacArthur caused problems during the Korean War. The US should try to resolve the situation with talks instead of implementation of force. However, Pence and others aren’t prepared to accept a peaceful partnership with China. This US desire threatens China and also increases the chances of conflicts. This fight could not only harm the US or China but will engulf the whole world.
China’s actions towards the United States and Taiwan express weakness, not strength. China said it has a strong military, but its forces said that China’s military is not as strong as the United States. China’s strategy to use military threats against Taiwan is not a good idea. The threat led to it gaining US support.
China is also aware of the discussion of people in the US. They talk about Taiwan to what to do. After a meeting between US and Chinese officials, China claims that the US is the major cause of problems. According to China, the president of a nation can fix all issues, but why does China forget that not all things are in the hands of the president?
The US must handle Taiwan and China carefully. US policy created the current situation, and leaving it now would put many lives in danger. But some US politicians are willing to take this risk for their own interests.
