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Editor's Note:
The writer, Mr. I. Hussain Janjua is a senior media professional and analyst having experience of research & broadcast journalism in different organisations. He is a non-resident fellow of Chengdu Institute of World Affairs (CIWA). (Email: [email protected]; twitter: @ihussainjanjua)
The US, in a move that is likely to increase its tension with China, has approved worth around $1.8 billion arms sales to Taiwan comprising three weapons systems including rocket launchers, sensors and artillery.
Taiwan, which considers itself a separate country, is a break-away province of China that in recent years has increased tensions as Beijing considers it its integral part, having never ruled out the use of force to take it back.
Upholding ‘one China’ principle is the political basis of China's relations with US, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Otherwise, there will be a serious impact on the relations between the two countries in particular and world peace in general as the Covid-19 pandemic has already created bad blood due to President Trump having raised serious questions about the virus though sans any substantial backing.
According to the “one China” policy, there is only a single state called ‘China’ despite the two governments. People’s Republic of China, the mainland China, considers Taiwan (officially known as Republic of China) a renegade province. However, People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of one China as Taiwan has control only over a few small islands.
In a bid to build credible combat capabilities and strengthen the development of asymmetric warfare, Taiwan's defence ministry wants to get weapons.
Under President Donald Trump, the US has sold significantly more weapons to Taiwan than before.
The recent deal includes 135 precision-guided cruise missiles, as well as mobile light rocket launchers and air reconnaissance pods that can be attached to fighter jets --- seems willing to challenge the delicate balance Washington has maintained for decades with China and Taiwan.
The deal is likely have a major impact on Beijing's relationship with the US and it most likely would respond.
US national security adviser Robert O'Brien's recent remarks that Taiwan needed to strengthen itself for the future reflects US ill intentions and tantamount to provoking Beijing and consequently triggering further downturn in Sino-US ties already damaged by the continuing trade war.
Moreover, in recent months, the US has been intensifying its outreach to Taiwan. In August, the highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan in decades met island's president Tsai Ing-wen.
Beijing strongly objecting to the meeting has warned the US not to send any wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' elements to avoid severe damage to China-US relations.
While the US does sell Taiwan arms, and has an implicit security guarantee, it does not have a formal defence treaty with Taiwan as it does with Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
President Trump’s remarks during a Fox News interview: “I fully understand the ‘one China’ policy, but I don't know why we have to be bound by a ‘one China’ policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade,” are cause of concern as Beijing was already upset with Trump’s earlier telephone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
Beijing is suspicious of Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party which has pushed for the country’s formal independence.
The state-run Global Times in a strongly-worded editorial stated the “one China” policy was not for selling.
“Trump thinks that everything can be valued and, as long as his leverage is strong enough, he can sell or buy… Trump needs to learn to handle foreign affairs modestly, especially the China-US relationship. More importantly, a hard struggle against Trump is needed to let him know that China and other world powers cannot be easily taken advantage of,” the newspaper said.
Therefore, any interference with the “one China” policy is likely to impact peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and hamper Beijing’s relations with the US.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
