Although the US has a policy of “strategic ambiguity” toward Taiwan, it is committed to the security and wellbeing of Taiwanese, a US academic told a conference on Taiwan international relations on Friday.
“We are not ambiguous about our opposition to the threat or use of military force or any other form of coercion [against Taiwan],” Alan Romberg, the director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center, said in a speech at the George Washington University conference.
However, Romberg stressed that the US also attached great importance to having constructive relations with China and so opposed all “unnecessary acts of provocation” that would harm these interests. He said that the US left open the question of whether it would become involved in a military conflict between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“[This] Strategic ambiguity is designed to say to the mainland [China]: ‘Don’t assume that we won’t become involved if you use or threaten force against Taiwan,” he said. “And it says to Taiwan: ‘Don’t assume we will become involved.’”
Romberg said that if Washington said that it would come into the fray no matter what could encourage radical elements in Taiwan to push for de jure independence.
“This could have catastrophic implications for Taiwan, for US-PRC relations and for stability in the region,” he said.
Yet if Washington said it would not under any circumstance become militarily engaged in a Taiwan-China conflict, that could create a dynamic in which coercion could be applied far more easily, Romberg said.
“As we all know, the situation over the [Taiwan] Strait has changed dramatically over the last several years and the positions of the authorities in both Beijing and Taipei have evolved substantially,” he said, but added that the underlying reality had not changed.
“Beijing still holds the goal of ultimate reunification [with Taiwan] and not only might different circumstances in Taiwan change the cross-strait climate, [but] a different political climate on the mainland might cause a rethinking of the current patience,” Romberg said.
He added that while the chances of a Taiwanese movement toward de jure independence in were somewhere “between zero and minus-76,” China could not completely trust that such a push would not happen.
While the idea of a war in the Taiwan Strait soon was “a bit far-fetched,” China, Taiwan and the US should still prepare for it.
“In pursuing this complex and nuanced policy, clarity in some respects is essential, but in other respects, focused ambiguity helps to create the space necessary for the two sides to interact effectively,” Romberg said. “It may not be as satisfying as a definitive position, but it works and that’s what matters.”
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS