First official delegation, dispatched by the European Parliament to Taiwan, has arrived in Taipei. In the political history of the self-ruled island, it is seen as a development of high significance and this has come amid mounting apprehension of Chinese PLA attack on Taiwan.
Yet what would trigger restlessness among Chinese authorities is the US’s move to consider a request from Taiwan to change the name of its mission in Washington DC from Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to Taiwan Representative Office.
“The United States is seriously considering allowing the Taiwanese government to change the name of its representative office in Washington to include the word Taiwan,” the Financial Times recently reported citing multiple people briefed on internal US discussions.
If this happens, it will be a major shift in the US policy towards China, the Red Kingdom which is already undergoing the worst phase of its relations with the US. Though China has warned the US from tweaking One-China policy, yet what has led to further escalation of rhetoric and political posturing over Taiwan is US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s last week statement in which he expressed regret that the UN General Assembly voted to recognize Beijing as the representative from China and not Taipei.
The US Secretary of State was speaking on the occasion of 50 years of the UN General Assembly recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China in the UN. Antony Blinken regretted that Taiwan had been increasingly excluded on the world stage. “As the international community faces an unprecedented number of complex and global issues, it is critical for all stakeholders to help address these problems,” the US Secretary of State said.
Baffled by the US Secretary of State’s statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on October 29 said: “The historical facts have clearly shown that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The Taiwan region is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The system, agencies and the Secretariat of the UN should abide by the one-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758 when dealing with Taiwan-related affairs.”
As per Hudson Institute, the Joe Biden administration is undertaking a Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that will outline the nuclear policy of the United States. The American think tank, however, maintains that instead of waiting for more revelations to appear on the Chinese hypersonic missile system, the US should improve its own strategic posture to surprise China
Amid ongoing clash of words between China and the US over Taiwan, one more punch was given by the US Secretary of State to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Rome on October 31. Antony Blinken, according to Reuters, told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in “crystal clear” terms that Washington opposes any unilateral changes by Beijing to the status quo over Taiwan.
This hard hitting statement from the US’s very high ranking diplomat came in the backdrop of Chinese military test-firing two hypersonic missiles in July and August. According to the Financial Times, the missile circled the Earth at a low altitude and a velocity of more than five times the speed of sound, but it missed its target by more than 30-km. Whatever be the argument over accuracy and capability of China’s hypersonic missile, it was aimed at deterring the US for its siding with Taiwan. However, on its part, it seems the US was ready for any challenges.
As per Hudson Institute, the Joe Biden administration is undertaking a Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that will outline the nuclear policy of the United States. The American think tank, however, maintains that instead of waiting for more revelations to appear on the Chinese hypersonic missile system, the US should improve its own strategic posture to surprise China.
“The recent tests fit with the overall pattern of Chinese nuclear weapons expansion. Rather than waiting for new revelations and then reacting, it would be wise for the United States to make significant improvements to our own strategic posture to further complicate the Chinese’ calculations,” Rebeccah L Heinrichs, a Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute said in her article, ‘Learn the Right Lessons from the Chinese Hypersonic Missile Test.’
Media reports suggest that besides reviewing the US’ defence and strategic capabilities, the Joe Biden administration has taken several moves, since its enunciation in January 2021, to push China to the wall over Taiwan. In March, it released its interim National Security Guidance wherein it says “We will support Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner, in line with longstanding American commitments.”
On April 16, US President Biden and Japan’s then Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide issued a joint statement where they underscored “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”—a rare statement of support to Taiwan showing that if it was attacked then the US-Japan alliance would be brought to bear in that conflict.
Then, in May, in the face of stiff Chinese opposition, the US asked Taiwan to join the World Health Assembly. In August, the Joe Biden administration approved its first Taiwan arms sale. Under the $750 million defence deal, as per the US State Department notification to Congress, the US will offer Taiwan 40 new M109 self-propelled howitzers, 1,700 kits to convert projectiles into more precise GPS-guided munitions.
This is in addition to the US’ attempt to train Taiwanese armed forces to counter possible Chinese military aggression. “US forces have been secretly training Taiwan’s military forces in the country for at least a year amid concerns of Chinese aggression toward the self-ruled island,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
In reaction, China has stepped up military harassment of the island by flying fighter jets towards Taiwan. Till October 4, China sent as many as 150 fighter aircraft into Taiwan’s defence zone—all this a week before Taiwan’s National Day. Analysts saw it as a warning to Taiwan. But Taipei under President Tsai Ing-wen is not weakling. Her move to counter China’s threat is multi-pronged.
While preparing the island’s defence and security arrangement to face any eventuality, she is asking the democratic countries that if Taiwan is forcefully unified by China, it will prove to be catastrophic for those who support democratic values. “If we fail, then that means people would doubt whether these are values that they (should) be fighting for,” the Taiwanese President said recently.
It is seen as an emotional appeal to the democratic countries to support Taiwan as it is facing threat from mainland China ruled by the Communist party. In particular, it is an appeal to the US and the West that they should be ready for a military and economic response to China if it invades Taiwan.
The seven-member European Parliament delegation’s visit to Taiwan is seen as a moral support to the ruling elites in Taipei, which is also facing a barrage of China-led disinformation campaigns against it. In fact, China’s approach towards Taiwan has made Beijing an eyesore, at least in the eyes of countries which believe in rule of law, democracy and peace. Scandinavian countries like Lithuania have already allowed the self-ruled island to open its representative office in Vilnius in Taiwan’s name.
Even as other European countries are trying to follow suit, the US has indicated that it will honour Taipei’s sentiment by accepting its request to change the name of its mission in Washington DC as Taiwan representative office. Whether the US does it or not, China, the world’s second economic power, needs to review its Taiwan strategy for its own personal interest. Because, once the US accepts Taipei’s request, it would set off a chain reaction with Europe and several countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa which are unhappy with China’s aggressive behaviour, may start reviewing their One China policy.
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
