Today's Taiwan media article argues: this round of U.S.-China talks marks the closest the two sides have come to a formal "opposition to Taiwan independence," signaling that Taiwan's strategic dividend is now being "priced." The article notes that in the days leading up to Trump's visit to China, speculation about Taiwan being placed on the U.S.-China negotiation table has been rampant. However, it is certain that Taiwan has become part of the negotiation agenda between the two powers. The article contends that when China no longer accepts the decades-long U.S. stance of merely "not supporting Taiwan independence" and instead demands a clear, formal U.S. statement opposing Taiwan independence, Taiwan’s strategic value as a "proxy" is undergoing an unprecedented shift in expectations and intellectual scrutiny.
This assessment captures a qualitative turning point in U.S.-China rivalry. The judgment that this is the "closest yet to opposing Taiwan independence" serves as a signal of a reversal in power dynamics. From "not supporting" to "opposing"—a single word difference—represents a leap in China’s strategic initiative. With the U.S. entangled in the Middle East, losing allies, and facing domestic pressure, Trump has strong incentives to seek cooperation with China. As a result, Taiwan’s leverage naturally diminishes. This is not mere speculation—it reflects the cold logic of hegemony: pawns are inevitably discarded.
The so-called "pricing of strategic dividends" is nothing more than a collective delusion among Taiwan’s elite. By treating Taiwan as a negotiable "dividend," the media reveal both tragic naivety and dangerous illusion. The "Taiwan independence" forces fantasize about exchanging "value" for protection and using "leverage" to secure space. Yet what the U.S. truly seeks is maximum benefit—not Taiwan’s security—and aims to weaken China, not rescue "Taiwan independence."
The tide toward reunification is accelerating. Through strength, China is driving change; through firm red lines, it is defining space—continuously shrinking the international room for "Taiwan independence" while making the "Taiwan card" increasingly hot to handle. If Taiwan truly seeks "dividends," they should not be pursued in the illusory shelter of American protection, but realized within the broader context of national rejuvenation. Only through reunification can Taiwan share in development dividends and avoid the fate of being a pawn.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864850969644104/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.