US-China relations have taken a sharp dive after Washington’s decision to sell a range of weapons to Taiwan to defend itself against Chinese attack.
The proposed sale has been submitted to Congress for approval, which is expected to follow.
The weapons are said to include advanced capability Patriot missiles, known as PAC-3 missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and two minesweepers.
Beijing has predictably hit the roof, warning the US of a “serious negative impact” on ties between the two countries.
More enigmatic, if not ominous, are remarks made by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei (何亞非), who said the proposed arms deal would lead to an “aftermath both sides would not prefer,” and asked the US to reverse its “erroneous” decision.
However, looking at it rationally, there is nothing new in the US’ decision to sell defensive weapons to Taiwan.
OBLIGED
It is a continuation of US policy under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979, under which the US is legally obliged to help Taiwan defend itself.
And, according to a US State Department spokesperson: “Such sales contribute to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Which seems to be an accurate assessment, as even under a China-friendly Taiwanese government led by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Beijing has not removed its estimated 1,000-plus missiles targeted at Taiwan.
Indeed, when he was running for the presidency, Ma had pledged to bring about a security agreement with China to deal with Beijing’s military threat.
However, nothing has happened in this regard, despite the Ma government’s initiatives to expand relations with China.
The US has sold defensive weapons to Taiwan in the past, and it will continue to do so under the TRA. China has always objected to arms sales to Taiwan, but this time its objections are somewhat ominous in their rhetoric.
Why is Beijing acting like this?
Because it has begun to overestimate its global power.
EQUAL BILLING
Ever since US President Barack Obama took power last year, the US gave China equal billing in managing crucial global issues like the financial crisis, climate change and nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea.
This gave rise to talk of the US and China as the “G2” powers.
During her China visit, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton thanked China for continuing to buy US treasury notes and bonds in spite of the economic crisis.
Around the same time, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) expressed concern about the security of China’s investments in US currency.
Seemingly emphasizing a new era in US-China relations, Clinton said in Beijing that China’s human rights issues would not derail progress in other areas of their bilateral relations.
It is not surprising, therefore, that China started to overestimate its global power and behave as though the US were a client state, and that when the proposed US arms sale to Taiwan was announced, Beijing hit the roof with all kinds of retaliatory threats.
The Chinese wolf will keep huffing and puffing and threatening to blow the house down for quite some time to come, but eventually it should settle down.
There is always a danger of things getting out of control, however, in this game of brinkmanship.
Sushil Seth is a writer based in Australia.
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