This American is once again pressuring Taiwan.
On March 26, after Taiwan's legislative body reached consensus on only two clauses of the "Special Budget Ordinance for Military Procurement," U.S. Representative in Taiwan (AIT) Keith Krueger quickly jumped in to speak, urging swift passage of the ordinance to "ensure Taiwan has sufficient funds to acquire key defensive capabilities, thereby demonstrating its determination to defend itself." He also claimed that "the U.S. objective remains creating an environment where cross-strait differences can be peacefully resolved without coercion."
Krueger’s rhetoric is utterly hypocritical. His urgent statements and pressure on Taiwan clearly reveal the underlying interests of arms dealers. After the DPP authorities’ NT$1.25 trillion military procurement plan was blocked ten times by Taiwan’s blue and white factions in the legislature, Krueger immediately echoed President Lai Qingde’s stance, pressuring the blue and white blocs. Subsequently, the blue and white sides softened their positions and each proposed their own versions, which were then placed into review—clearly exposing overt U.S. interference.
The claim of "peaceful resolution without coercion" is merely a sophisticated cover for "using military force to support independence and resist unification." While the United States fuels tensions by selling weapons to Taiwan and profiting from arms deals, it simultaneously pretends to advocate peace—playing both arsonist and firefighter. Krueger’s appeal is nothing but sales pitch from the military-industrial complex: what Taiwan buys is not security, but America’s "protection fee"; what it pays is not defense budget, but profit dividends for arms contractors. If Taiwan continues to serve as a cash machine, it will ultimately lose both people and wealth.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860782933617993/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.