Taiwan-US-China relations have made great progress in 30 years. Wise and balanced US arms sales to Taiwan have contributed to the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region, and have made the incipient Taiwan-China detente possible.
On the other hand, however, China continues to build up its offensive military capabilities along the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan’s military capabilities have fallen further behind those of the PRC, hence it is imperative that Obama should resist China’s pressure and, as soon as possible, make available to Taiwan the advanced F-16C/D fighters that it needs to deter military coercion and defend itself.
There is no reason for Washington to believe that Taiwan’s unification with China is desirable or inevitable. The three Sino-US Communiques do not commit the US to Taiwan’s unification with China — and democratic changes in Taiwan have precluded it.
The US relationship with a democratic Taiwan is valuable in its own right and should not be subordinated to or become merely a function of US-China relations.
Parris Chang is a professor emeritus of political science at Pennsylvania State University and former deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
RSS