As China-Taiwan Tensions Rise, U.S. Strategy Raises Questions | WSJ

As tensions between China and Taiwan escalate, WSJ’s Gerald F. Seib examines the debate on whether the time has come for the U.S. to change its long-standing strategic ambiguity approach and openly declare that it would come to the island’s defense. Photo Illustration: Nikki Walker

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#Taiwan #China #WSJ

[rudiruttger]

I can't say I've been impressed by the return of the "deep concern" foreign policy

[hplgtmd]

Biden is gonna forget what is happening.

[heranshen]

In summary: ROC should buy more USA weapon.

[energeticcodfish]

Taiwan's goal in 1950s: occupy the entire China (failed)
Taiwan's goal in 1970s: represent the entire China (failed)
Taiwan's goal in 1980s: claim to be China's best province (failed)
Taiwan's goal in 1990s: claim to be another China (failed)
Taiwan's goal in 2010s: claim to be R.O. China (Taiwan) (failed)
Taiwan's goal in 2020s: claim to be Taiwan (?)

[ckong]

The way it is going, US has given Taiwan a lot of signs to make a bold move for independence

[DatGinnga]

If I have strategic ambiguity explained to me one more time fr his week I’m going to loose it 😂

[dankengine]

Alright yall it’s been great walking the Earth with you. I’ll see you all in the afterlife or in the nuclear wasteland.

[caspersams]

What a great time to be an American male of draft age

[shazmosushi]

Strategic clarity is clearly the way to go.

[redstonetf]

As long as they still follow the "MAD" protocol we should be fine... hopefully.

[polemicification]

The problem with clarity is that it will force China to invade Taiwan much sooner because it would send a signal to China that there is no hope for peaceful reunification. US declaring such a statement would also violate the joint communiques that were the basis of diplomatic relationship between China and the US. Taiwan is only 100 km away from China while the main base of American Naval power is in Guam some 2800km away so presumably for the first week of the war Chinese Air Force would have air superiority. I didn’t see US jumping in Crimea when Russians took it over why it would risk war with China (another nuclear power with more advanced weaponry and closer proximity).

[Infinity-gqum]

Of course usa can not miss out on this one. Always have the nose in someone else's business. Where is the profit otherwise?!

[yaoypl]

China is willing to pay a heavy price to take Taiwan back for it is the core interest of China. Would the US be willing to pay a heavy price for protecting Taiwan?

[WalkOverHotCoal]

"Would" or "could" is the $2.3 Trillions question. America can't say it won't as they would be seen as weak. As for Blinken, I am not sure that he is a suitable person to hold such an important position. He seems gung-ho but is talking without considering the consequences. That meeting between China and US in Hawaii is a clear case in point.

As for whether US would come to Taiwan's aid, that is the promise made since the CCP took control of China. But could US come to Taiwan's aid? I would think it is a "yes" some 10 years ago. Now, and in the next decades, I doubt it. As much as US hates to think so, it has a lot of issues to overcome back home. Economy being top on the list. What about defence? Well, a recent failed hyper sonic missile test clearly demonstrated that as much as US still like to believe that it is way ahead of China and Russia, it isn't. In a nutshell, China is not what it was 20 years ago, and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 40 years ago.

My belief is it would be best not to provoke tension between all three parties. By bearing away from the ambiguous position to what it is now, will embolden Taiwan. Waging a war over Taiwan seems ridiculous to Western nations, but to China, it is about many things. Top on the list is its claim over sovereignty over Taiwan. Now would America tolerate Hawaii break out from the United States?

[KennyL]

If I were the Taiwanese leader, I would start doing reckless and provocative things to hook the United States into the conflict. I would box in the United States to give it no choice. That's the best Taiwanese strategy.

[AthenaSaints]

Hainan island is missing from the China map. Is WSJ advocating Hainan island's independence?

[HarharMahadev-bbhi]

One thing that can start world war 3 is Taiwan issue. Do the world want 4 or more years of war after this pandemic? Please deescalate tension. We had enough of pandemic itself.

[unveiledeyes]

Be clear and see China's equally clear response

[TianTian-lquy]

For the sake of US politicians, the more chaos between mainland China and HK or Taiwan, the higher bargaining power in the negotiation with Beijing. I believe our central government has the wisdom to not fall into such trap, and to concentrate on evolving China to the next level, thus to bring win-win solution coping with Taiwan.

[unreliablenarrator]

ROC claims greater territory than PRC including all of Mainland China and Mongolia. The essence of the dispute is sovereignty, and the joint agreements between the PRC and USA recognizes this fact enshrined in "One China". If the US intends to "defend" Taiwan, does it mean it no longer recognizes it's previous agreements? Does the US now recognize Taipei as the government of China and Beijing as illegitimate? Any analysis of the situation needs to return to these fundamental.