The US must warn China of the severe consequences of taking military action against Taiwan, former US national security adviser John Bolton said in Taipei yesterday.
Bolton made the remarks while giving the keynote address at the World Taiwanese Congress’ annual meeting.
He added that the US must work closer with Taiwan and allied countries in Asia on national security to counter Chinese aggression, and ensure that Taiwan remains a free and democratic country.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
“People thought Ukraine could not fight, they say it’s just part of Russia historically, whereas in fact, Ukrainians have fought with skill, morale and effectiveness,” said Bolton, who also served as US ambassador to the UN.
It would be the same for Taiwan, he said.
“Will Taiwan fight for its independence?” he asked, as people in the audience shouted: “Yes, we will.”
“That is the right answer,” Bolton said, smiling as people applauded in the conference room.
“That’s what China has to understand, that the people here believe in governing themselves, and they are not going to give it up, and it’s important that is communicated to the US. So when commentators said that Taiwanese are using Americans’ support, but they are not really prepared to defend themselves ... that is wrong. If it came to military action, then Taiwan would fight,” he said.
Bolton criticized politicians and commentators in the US and around the world who he said claim Taiwan is being provocative.
China is the aggressor, always threatening Taiwan and other countries in the region, he said.
“Strength is not provocative; weakness is provocative,” Bolton said.
Weakness is what needs to be avoided in Taiwan, he said, urging the US to help Taiwan to bolster its military capabilities.
“We need to do more to convince [Chinese President] Xi Jinping [習近平], that he cannot prevail” and that an attack on Taiwan would have heavy consequences for China, Bolton said.
The US should recognize Taiwan, he added.
When Taiwan was expelled from the UN in 1971, former US president George H.W. Bush was the US ambassador to the UN and he supported dual recognition, so that Taiwan could keep its seat in the UN, but the idea was rejected by Taiwan and China at the time, Bolton said.
“But now dual recognition makes sense from the US perspective, though it could be displeasing to Bejing, but that’s the point [we must make], to show that relations between the US and Taiwan are fixed, and will not go away,” he said.
Even now in the absence of full recognition, richer strategic dialogues between Taiwanese and US officials are needed, not just between diplomats, but also those in the military and intelligence fields, so that the two national security teams can coordinate, Bolton said.
Other allied countries must also be involved in contingency planning, to assess what China might do and how to respond, he said.
“If an attack takes place, then it’s too late,” he said.
If Taiwan pressed for more national security discussions, it would have a greater chance of deterring Chinese aggression or defending itself, he said.
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS