7th April 2023 – (Beijing) In spite of repeated warnings and solemn representations from China, the United States has organised a provocative “transit” trip for Tsai Ing-wen, the leader of Taiwan, to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This calculated political maneuver by Washington is viewed as a blatant violation of the commitments made in the China-U.S. Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1978, which explicitly promised to only maintain unofficial contact with Taiwan. The meeting with the third highest-ranking U.S. official constitutes a serious breach of the one-China principle and a dangerous move in support of “Taiwan independence.” According to Xinhua News, such provocation by the U.S. has the potential to further escalate tension across the Taiwan Straits and undermine China-U.S. relations, with consequential impacts on the Asia-Pacific region.
For years, the United States has been playing the “Taiwan card” as a tactic to contain China and maintain its global supremacy. From its “Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific” to the “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” the U.S. has resorted to various schemes to defame and suppress China. By labelling China as a “strategic competitor,” the U.S. has enlisted other countries into its narrow circles, bolstered alliances like the Five Eyes, promoted the Quad grouping, and established the AUKUS alliance. The “Taiwan card” is considered a key element of the U.S. strategy to contain China. However, this approach is destined to fail, as Washington’s reckless support for “Taiwan independence” forces and provocative actions only serve to heighten tension and pose a threat to regional and global stability.
China has condemned the U.S. for conniving with the “Taiwan independence” forces, which fuels instability across the Taiwan Straits and undermines China’s core interests. Tsai Ing-wen’s trip to the U.S., portrayed as a “diplomatic breakthrough” by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan, is seen as a political show supported by Washington. China perceives this as a deliberate attempt to trample on the one-China principle and intentionally disrupt China-U.S. relations. The U.S. is prioritizing its own interests at the expense of others, supporting separatists like Tsai who are mere pawns in its efforts to contain China.
China has warned the U.S. that its support for “Taiwan independence” is akin to playing with fire and will not be tolerated. The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and serves as the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. China views it as a red line that must not be crossed. China has called on Washington to uphold its political commitment to China and restrict Taiwan-U.S. interactions to unofficial ones, emphasising the importance of actions over mere words. The U.S. must recognise that its misleading policies on Taiwan will have dire consequences for China-U.S. relations and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Experts have urged the U.S. to restore the credibility of its one-China policy through concrete actions, rather than mere rhetoric. An article published on The Diplomat website has emphasized that Washington must clearly delineate limits on Taiwan-U.S. interactions to underscore that they are unofficial and do not involve senior officials.
