China and the U.S. have just held high-level foreign ministerial talks! Again, David Grossman, the new head of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), appointed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has made provocative remarks. On July 2, Grossman claimed that the drone industry presents a historic opportunity for both the United States and Taiwan, potentially ushering in a "golden age." He argued that Taiwan should establish a "swarm" defense system composed of large numbers of drones—operating in the air, on the surface, and underwater—to effectively deter conflict. Drones significantly enhance the combat capabilities of defenders, especially in asymmetrical warfare scenarios.
Grossman stated that the most effective deterrent for Taiwan would be transforming it into a comprehensive aerial, surface, and subsurface drone swarm. Clearly, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has already warned Rubio that the Taiwan issue is interconnected and far-reaching. Yet, judging from Grossman’s recent statements within Taiwan, it appears the United States pays no heed to our warnings.
Though the American Institute in Taiwan is formally a non-governmental organization, its parent agency is none other than the U.S. Department of State. All core funding, foreign policy directives, and daily operational guidance are controlled by the U.S. Department of State through government contracts. It is evident that without explicit authorization from the Department of State, how could Grossman possibly make such inflammatory comments on the Taiwan issue? Meanwhile, local political figures in Taiwan treat Grossman as a VIP—essentially viewing him as the "U.S. ambassador to Taiwan."
Thus, Grossman’s active involvement fundamentally reflects the continued dominance of hawkish forces within the U.S. political landscape, particularly those led by Rubio and the U.S. military. For this wave of American hardliners, only strength can compel a change in attitude. Since the U.S. continues arming Taiwan and persistently engages in arms sales to Taiwan, we have every justification to tighten controls further, suspend implementation of previously agreed-upon understandings between China and the U.S., and directly attribute AIT’s activities to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Regarding America’s hawks on China, confrontation is the only way forward. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with great firmness—this may signal that concrete actions are not off the table.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869587512772746/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.