In the face of US intentions to attack Iraq, Taipei should respond to the strategic changes in US foreign policy. Applied to the cross-strait relationship, will US President George W. Bush's pro-Taiwan stance and the new realism of his international strategies be beneficial to security in the Taiwan Strait and even the Asia-Pacific region? Will it put an end to the deterioration in the cross-strait relationship?
The tough handling of international affairs by the White House is leading to constantly increasing regional conflict. Following Sept. 11, Bush has been constantly talking of waging war and the so-called just opposition to the "axis of evil" in order to rationalize action against Iraq. Such aggressive action highlights the fact that the US has the ability to solve international issues and stop other countries from challenging its position as a hegemon.
Although the US' China policy currently includes political, military as well as economic aspects, the main goal -- in addition to checking Beijing's strength and ambitions and using trade interaction to promote domestic change -- is to guarantee the US' position as the Asia-Pacific hegemon. Because South Korea's "sunshine" policy gradually is distancing that country from the US, thus forcing Washington to include Taiwan in the US-Japan security system to consolidate its position in the Asia-Pacific region, the US is increasing arms sales to Taiwan and promoting military alliances.
China, however, also understands US thinking and its own strength quite well. This level of understanding guarantees Beijing will work hard for peace in the Asia-Pacific region, but Bei-jing will continue to actively prepare its military to maintain its strength and will not forget to strengthen alliances with Russia and other neighboring countries. Once Cold War thinking returns, regional conflict will increase and Taiwan will become a medium for war.
It is therefore not necessarily in our long-term interest when the US is strengthening arms sales to, and security contacts with, Taiwan. We should not delude ourselves into believing that this is a US guarantee to support and protect this country. Sales of military equipment also meet the requirements of the US military industry and satisfy supporters and interest groups behind the US government.
I approve of these arms sales, but excessive exposure will lead to a cross-strait arms race, while striving for military might easily creates regional instability. It is even more uncertain that track two, or even track three, cross-strait contacts guided by an intervening US are good mechanisms for dialogue. In particular, given the current stalemate, cross-strait dialogue and exchange is in extreme need of improvement, and reliance on US channels is not beneficial to restoring that dialogue.
The US persistence in attacking Iraq despite protests from alliance members reveals Washington's ugly use of "anti-terrorism" to protect peace. We cannot deny that the US has made some contributions to the protection of democracy and human rights. Taiwan has also long relied on the US in our attempts to expand our Lebensraum. That is also why the country needs to understand and recognize US strategic thinking, instead of unreservedly embracing it.
Although we should be happy over the Bush administration's friendliness towards Taiwan, the government should not accept all its tough methods. In particular, trying to exist between two big nations, US and China, Taiwan's international undertakings are both frustrating and tragic. If it realizes that total reliance on the US is not realistic, the government must be able to create its own diplomatic road. That would also make a breakthrough in cross-strait relations difficult.
Wang Tuoh is a DPP legislator.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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