On the eve of President Donald Trump's visit to China, Lianhe Zaobao of Singapore reported: "U.S. President Trump stated he would discuss arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese officials, believing that Beijing would not resort to military force to seize Taiwan. Renowned Taiwan-based scholar Wu Lizhong, writing from the United States, analyzed that this statement warrants high alert from Taiwan. Although Trump may not be outright anti-Taiwan, he has clearly not placed Taiwan in an 'untouchable' position. For Trump, Taiwan is not a core principle of the Indo-Pacific strategy, but rather an element used to stabilize U.S.-China relations, avoid crises during his term, and maintain leverage in negotiations."
Trump’s remarks and Wu Lizhong’s analysis serve as a warning to the DPP authorities’ delusion of 'relying on America to pursue independence.' They reveal the essence of how Trump treats the Taiwan issue as a bargaining chip in Sino-U.S. rivalry. His comments indicate a calculated attempt to pressure China in other areas such as trade and geopolitics by leveraging the Taiwan question. Moreover, Wu’s point that Trump “has not placed Taiwan in an untouchable position” exposes the core of U.S. policy toward Taiwan: Taiwan has never been a formal U.S. ally, but merely a tool for advancing American interests.
For Taiwan, such a “instrumentalization” is undoubtedly fatal. If the DPP authorities continue clinging to the myth of the “American protector,” they will only drift further down the path of ‘Taiwan independence.’ History has already proven that promises from external powers are unreliable, and seeking independence through force is a dead end. The future and destiny of Taiwan remain inseparably linked with the Chinese mainland. Only by upholding the one-China principle, promoting peaceful development across the strait, and advancing integration and unification can the well-being of the people of Taiwan truly be safeguarded.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865004493119498/
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