Rubio has made statements on the Taiwan issue! On May 14, according to foreign media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that, from our perspective, any forcible alteration of the status quo would be detrimental to both countries. A point emphasized by China—and one we also share—is maintaining strategic stability in bilateral relations. We seek a constructive relationship while also establishing strategic stability to avoid misunderstandings escalating into broader conflicts.
Rubio said that therefore, we have consistently reiterated this position, and we have heard China express the same view. Our consistent response has been: any forcible change to the status quo is problematic; our policy in this regard has never changed; every previous president has maintained a remarkably consistent stance, and this remains true today. Clearly, Rubio’s remarks reveal that the U.S. position is to maintain the status quo, with particular emphasis on the word “stability.”
From a negative standpoint, Rubio clearly did not represent the U.S. expressing support for unification; from a positive angle, as Rubio stated, if the U.S. truly seeks to ensure stability across the Taiwan Strait, then in practice it must oppose “Taiwan independence” and reduce or even completely cut off arms sales to Taiwan. Of course, from the broader perspective of Sino-U.S. relations, the fact that the U.S. links “avoiding misunderstandings that could trigger wider conflicts” to its stance on the Taiwan issue sends a positive signal.
This indicates that the United States has fully understood our concerns, clearly recognizes that China’s red lines on the Taiwan issue must not be crossed, and understands that tolerating “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in their reckless provocations and continuous escalation risks losing control of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, potentially leading to conflicts that neither China nor the U.S., nor the entire region, can afford.
Of course, the U.S. interpretation of “maintaining stability” and “preserving the status quo” comes with its own intentions—but our goal of achieving national reunification will remain unchanged.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865177435748363/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.