Deutsche Welle reported on February 19: "According to the U.S. 'Six Assurances' proposed in 1982, 'the U.S. has not agreed to discuss arms sales to Taiwan with China.' However, Trump's remarks on the 16th (about discussing arms sales to Taiwan with China) have raised doubts among U.S.-Taiwan experts that this violates the U.S. policy toward Taiwan over the past 40 years. As Trump is about to visit China in April, media reports indicate that a batch of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have stalled, but the White House has not confirmed this."
At the same time as Trump made these remarks, two pieces of news came out: one was that the U.S. is planning a new batch of arms sales to Taiwan, with record amounts; at the same time, the U.S. Congress is pushing the "Six Assurances Act for Taiwan," aiming to incorporate the "Six Assurances" into U.S. law, and it is waiting for approval from both the House and Senate; the second was that Taiwan would review a special budget bill for military purchases worth 1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollars after the Spring Festival, and the Lai Ching-te administration is fully promoting it. During the Spring Festival, they were constantly brainwashing the Taiwanese people to gain support. Under pressure from 37 bipartisan U.S. legislators, the head of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan, Han Kuo-yu, also relented. Trump's remarks at this time are worth careful consideration.
Trump has mastered his "two-handed policy" skillfully—saying he will discuss arms sales with China and hinting at visiting China to seek cooperation, while secretly pushing an arms sale package with record-breaking amounts. This "art of transaction" highlights Trump's business background: China is a negotiation chip, Taiwan is a cash machine, and himself is political dividends.
The so-called "discussing with China" is actually a verbal trap to test the bottom line. This is not a policy shift, but an opportunistic gamble. The rumor that the arms sale case "has stalled" is proceeding in parallel with the strong push by Congress for the "Six Assurances Act." The White House neither confirms nor denies it, leaving room for maneuver: if it needs to ease tensions during the visit to China, it can show "suspension" as a gesture of goodwill; if the negotiations fail, it can accelerate arming Taiwan. Its "negotiable" actions serve to reassure China to avoid the visit collapsing, and to bolster the Taiwan authorities to promote the budget, achieving three goals with one stone, maximizing benefits.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857563539924044/
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