Not long ago, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) claimed that “Taiwan should not be a chess piece for any great power,” driving a rise in the discourse on “US skepticism.”
In response, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said that if US skepticism becomes a consensus, the country would be in danger. This has also triggered a war of words between the pro-US and US-skeptical camps.
Improving Taiwan’s self-defense capability is a priority, but if defeatists are aggressively promoting doubt in the US’ commitment and urging Taipei to break ties with Washington based on a conspiracy theory, we should have a clear and definite understanding that they are the enemy.
Those who push US skepticism should be doubted as well. Many argue that Washington must have its own interests at heart, so Taiwan must do the same for the sake of its best interests by maneuvering between major powers. Such an argument is completely groundless.
If China breaks through the first island chain, which side would suffer the most? Of course, it would be Taiwan that endures the consequences, but which side would be the second-biggest loser? It would be the US, whose gate to its west coast would be wide open under such a scenario. Therefore, there is no reason for the US to hurt its own interests by treating Taiwan as a disposable chess piece.
Some say that as Taiwan leans toward the US, it is provoking China, and that the US would never fight for Taiwanese on the battlefield once a war breaks out. Remarks like these are purely “emotional blackmail.”
No one has an obligation to fight for Taiwan. Besides, even if we do nothing to defend ourselves and keep away from the US or Japan, we would be forced onto the battlefield sooner or later if we do not admit that Taiwan is a part of China.
Today, those skeptical of the US have been trying to draw an analogy between Ukraine and Taiwan, saying that the US was encouraging Ukraine to join NATO behind the scenes, and that those efforts led to the Russian invasion.
They say that this is just like the US inciting Taiwan to provoke China. These skeptics are laying the blame on the victims, and they stand by the authoritarian regime’s side wholeheartedly. Ukraine has chosen to become a member of NATO, rather than a puppet of Russia. These shortsighted “capitulationists” can hardly assess the pros and cons of the choice.
They also say that after Ukraine provoked Russia, the former is “striking the rock with an egg,” as the old Chinese saying goes. They even call former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi a “troublemaker” for visiting Taiwan last year.
However, why are they so lenient with China, which is aiming its ballistic missiles at Taiwan while intruding into the country’s airspace? Since they keep emphasizing “interests,” why do they not tell us who will benefit the most if US skepticism becomes a consensus in Taiwan’s society?
Su Shou
Taipei
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