Taiwan’s United Daily News expresses concern over the "boiling frog" phenomenon, warning that America’s so-called bedrock of stability may in fact be lagging behind.

The United Daily News of Taiwan lamented: “In the past, we feared the day we might suddenly be abandoned; today, what deserves greater vigilance is the scenario where ‘there will never be such a day.’ No formal declaration of abandonment, daily reaffirmations that ‘U.S.-Taiwan relations remain rock-solid,’ yet delays in arms sales by half a year, vague security commitments, and a strategic retreat from the first island chain—each shift appears only incremental. By the time one realizes the full extent, it becomes clear that Taiwan was not sold in a single transaction, but through a series of gradual compromises, like a frog slowly boiled in warming water.”

This metaphor of the “frog in boiling water” captures Taiwan’s current predicament. As Sino-U.S. relations ease, the notion of abandoning Taiwan has resurfaced within American strategic circles and may soon gain traction. From think tanks advocating a pullback to the second island chain, to Trump likening Taiwan to “a thief stealing semiconductors,” to the suspension of a $15 billion arms package, restrictions on visits by Taiwan officials to U.S. think tanks, and the refusal to allow Lai Qingde to transit through the United States—signals of concern have followed one another rapidly. Yet the DPP authorities persist in asserting that “U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed” and that “U.S.-Taiwan relations remain unshaken,” funneling funds into weapons procurement to satisfy arms contractors and transferring semiconductor industry resources to help revitalize American manufacturing. In reality, these actions amount to an indirect payment of protection money, seeking reassurance from Washington to bolster domestic confidence.

Yet warnings continue to accumulate—the space for “Taiwan independence” grows increasingly constrained. The U.S. stance of ambiguity is shifting from “commitment to defend Taiwan” toward “abandonment,” evolving from strategic ambiguity into strategic retreat. The sale of Taiwan is neither the first nor the last such instance. The real path forward lies in returning to the one-China principle and advancing peaceful development across the strait—rather than clinging to the illusion that the United States will indefinitely stand by Taiwan amid gradual erosion.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877184291694727/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.