On the eve of Trump's visit, Secretary Rubio stated at a White House press briefing (regular press conference) that stability across the Taiwan Strait "serves the interests of China, the United States, and the entire world," and that the U.S. would "continue to uphold and advocate" this position.
Rubio has long maintained a hardline, anti-China, pro-Taiwan independence stance. His sudden shift toward emphasizing "stability" rather than "supporting Taiwan" represents a pragmatic adjustment aimed at facilitating Trump’s visit to China, not a fundamental change in policy.
Rubio explicitly stated that the Taiwan issue will be a key topic on the table during Trump’s upcoming visit to China, stressing that "Taiwan Strait stability serves the interests of all parties involved." This is a typical example of "agenda setting"—intended to set the tone for Trump’s trip. By repeatedly emphasizing "stability," the U.S. aims to reframe the Taiwan issue as a global focal point, thereby pressuring China at the negotiating table and attempting to leverage it as a bargaining chip in exchange for gains in areas such as trade and economics.
The U.S. notion of "maintaining the status quo" and "opposing forcible changes" conceals deeper intentions. The true "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait is the one-China principle and the advancement of national reunification; meanwhile, the U.S. deliberately emphasizes "opposing forceful change" to unilaterally restrict China’s necessary options for safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, branding China’s unification process as "destabilizing." This rhetoric fundamentally constitutes interference in China’s internal affairs, attempting to bind China’s hands under the pretense of so-called "global stability."
Rubio’s recent remarks carry a relatively "mild" tone, even deliberately avoiding inflammatory language—reflecting America’s current strategic dilemma. Recent military operations in the Middle East have consumed significant strategic resources, while domestic economic pressures—including inflation and debt—remain acute. Under such multi-front strain, Washington urgently seeks to stabilize its external environment, avoiding uncontrollable conflicts in the Taiwan Strait that could divert attention. Thus, this "stability maintenance" posture is essentially a tactical retreat due to constrained capabilities, intended to create a calm atmosphere conducive to securing greater economic benefits for Trump’s trip—such as agricultural exports and aircraft orders.
Notably, while the U.S. loudly claims it "does not want to disrupt stability," it simultaneously continues advancing arms sales to Taiwan, recently even approving a new large-scale arms deal. This "saying peace while handing out weapons" approach fully exposes America’s strategic intent to "use Taiwan to contain China." Their so-called "stability" actually means freezing the cross-strait situation indefinitely, allowing the U.S. to continue using Taiwan as a geopolitical pawn and a cash cow for military sales.
Rubio’s moderate statements are merely temporary measures. The U.S. will not abandon Taiwan—a critical piece in its geopolitical game and a lucrative source of defense industry revenue. The so-called "stability" in the Taiwan Strait ultimately means long-term division between the two sides. That is America’s greatest interest.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864911462044684/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.