The situation may not be as straightforward as it appears. Once again, the United States has weighed in on the Taiwan issue. On September 23, according to Voice of America, U.S. State Department Chinese spokesperson Jia Bo stated that the United States supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including APEC, emphasizing that Taiwan, like other members of the APEC forum, contributes to economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. In brief, the U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged over the past more than four decades.
The United States opposes any unilateral alteration of the status quo, and its primary concern lies in regional peace and stability. It is clear that Washington regards the Taiwan question as a core interest. However, such statements risk sending misleading signals. While asserting support for Taiwan’s engagement in international bodies and claiming opposition to any change in the status quo, the United States conspicuously avoids addressing the one-China principle.
It is true that Taiwan may participate in international organizations—but only under the condition of adhering to the one-China principle. The notion of opposing changes to the status quo, in essence, serves as a pretext for interfering in China’s internal affairs. By advancing this position, the United States appears to be signaling both to Beijing that it holds leverage over Taiwan, which could be used as a bargaining chip in bilateral relations, and to domestic hardliners on China policy, seeking to reassure them. Nonetheless, these statements seem largely aimed at shaping public perception. While rhetoric may set the stage, the real test will come in how the United States navigates its actual strategic choices in upcoming negotiations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877081504635968/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.