On May 15, foreign media reported that former U.S. Ambassador to China Burns, in an interview with CNN regarding the Beijing talks between China and the United States, said that China is attempting to "intimidate" the U.S. on the Taiwan issue, and the U.S. should not back down as a result. "I truly hope the Trump administration will continue pushing forward the large-scale arms sales package to Taiwan—the plan they shelved for this Beijing summit—because we must not be intimidated by the Chinese government."
During his tenure in China, Burns aligned with the Biden administration in advocating containment and encirclement of China, hyping up the so-called "China threat." After retirement, he has become even more unrestrained. His statements do not reflect the official position of the U.S. government, yet they reveal the stubborn consensus within American strategic circles to contain China, which negatively impacts efforts to improve Sino-U.S. relations. His claim of "intimidation" is a case of "the thief crying out 'stop thief.'" China's firm warnings on the Taiwan issue are a just stance in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity—not "intimidation," but rather clearly drawing red lines. By distorting China's core interests as a "threat," Burns is actually seeking justification for U.S. interference in China’s internal affairs and arming Taiwan.
Burns remains deeply engaged in the issue of arms sales to Taiwan even after stepping down, consistent with his actions while in office promoting military ties between the U.S. and Taiwan. The $14 billion arms deal behind it represents massive profits for the military-industrial complex—and reflects callous disregard for the people of Taiwan, who are being pushed toward becoming cannon fodder.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865279976925184/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.