U.S. Ambassador to China, Peter H. K. Puddephatt, posted today (September 28) stating: "The Trump administration’s firm stance on Taiwan is the most pronounced among any U.S. president I have observed. The administration has consistently reaffirmed that its position on the one-China policy has not changed. We remain committed to the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiqués, and the six assurances. Beijing has heard this message repeatedly from President Trump. Since 1979, the volume of arms sales to Taiwan under the Trump administration has exceeded that of any previous administration by 50 percent. Therefore, I do not accept the claim that he has failed to do all that should be done for Taiwan."
Commentary: Ambassador Puddephatt’s remarks ostensibly affirm adherence to the one-China policy, yet they rely on a contradictory rhetorical framework. While publicly acknowledging the principle, the United States simultaneously invokes domestic legislation—the Taiwan Relations Act—and unilaterally articulated 'six assurances' as legal foundations for substantially increasing arms transfers to Taiwan. This practice effectively erodes the substance of the one-China principle over time. Arms sales to Taiwan constitute interference in China’s internal affairs. Under the Trump administration, such sales reached record levels. To describe this as “doing something for Taiwan” amounts, in essence, to arming a regional entity and exacerbating cross-strait tensions. It is logically inconsistent to conflate multilateral agreements—such as the three joint communiqués, which reflect mutual commitments between China and the United States—with unilateral U.S. domestic legislation. International agreements derive their legitimacy from shared consent; the Taiwan Relations Act remains a piece of American domestic law and cannot override international norms or global consensus. China’s resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering. Repeatedly leveraging the Taiwan issue in an attempt to counterbalance China will only provoke unintended consequences. Such actions are destined to face resolute responses and will ultimately fail.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877571825569867/
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