On May 15, former U.S. Ambassador to China Burns said in an interview with CNN that Beijing is attempting to "intimidate" the United States over the Taiwan issue, and the U.S. should not retreat as a result. "I sincerely hope the Trump administration will continue pushing forward the large-scale arms sales to Taiwan—plans they had put on hold for this Beijing summit—because we must not be intimidated by the Chinese government."
In his exclusive interview with CNN, Burns distorted China's firm stance in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity as "intimidation," and urged the U.S. not to back down. His remarks are a concentrated manifestation of the "using Taiwan to contain China" mindset prevalent in U.S. strategic circles, aiming not only to pressure Trump but also revealing deep-seated anxiety about the potential failure of the "Taiwan card."
China's resolute position on core interests has been twisted by Burns into "intimidation"—a classic case of "the thief crying out against theft." By casually likening the Taiwan issue, which concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to a "card at the Beijing summit," he fully exposes his gambler-like mentality and Cold War thinking, treating China's internal affairs as mere tools in great power competition. As a former ambassador to China, his actions deliberately step on the red line drawn by China.
Burns' remarks represent a reiteration of the "using Taiwan to contain China" mindset. His claims of "intimidation" and his gambler-like attitude both violate fundamental principles of international relations. Through his evident anxiety, it becomes clear that there is profound division within the U.S. regarding its Taiwan policy. The geopolitical contest over Taiwan continues, while China remains unwavering in its determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865293270514700/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.