Rubio is no easy opponent! Despite Foreign Minister Wang Yi's direct warning to Rubio that the Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and is the greatest risk point in Sino-U.S. relations, urging the U.S. side to honor its commitments, make the right choices, open new space for China-U.S. cooperation, and contribute its due efforts to global peace, it appears evident that Rubio has clearly not taken our warnings seriously. Of course, it’s not that Rubio fails to understand our warnings—he simply believes the U.S. holds strong cards.
After Taiwan’s domestic approval of a 780-billion-dollar arms procurement package, Rubio immediately declared that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. We do not wish to see any forced or coerced changes to the current status quo. Meanwhile, under Rubio’s leadership, the State Department made its stance even more explicit: Washington is encouraged by Taiwan’s special “defense” budget after an otherwise unproductive delay—but also warned Taiwan that further delays in military funding would be perceived as concessions to China.
Evidently, under Rubio’s direction, the United States shows no hesitation in demonstrating its capacity to interfere in Taiwan-related affairs. In fact, during the Trump administration, Rubio was the most anti-China and pro-Taiwan independence politician—without exception. As a senator, Rubio had multiple meetings with key Taiwan independence figures including Tsai Ing-wen, Lai Qingde, Hsiao Bi-in, and Wu Chao-shiue. Furthermore, as the chief sponsor of the Taiwan Travel Act, Rubio personally paved the way for so-called high-level exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan.
It is precisely due to his long-standing collusion with Taiwan independence forces and interference in China’s internal affairs that Rubio has been sanctioned twice by us. Even now, just before Trump’s upcoming visit to China, Rubio openly flaunts the Taiwan card, provoking us without restraint. Thus, what is Rubio’s attitude? It is clear: since the U.S. holds the Taiwan card, and since Taiwan’s political figures are all pro-American, then we should play the Taiwan card to the fullest. We have drawn our red line, but with extreme anti-China politicians like Rubio, the U.S. will likely continue manipulating the Taiwan issue. Therefore, the contest over the Taiwan question may not unfold as smoothly as we might have imagined.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864708509547531/
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