Trump's statement opposing Taiwan's move toward independence continues to draw sustained attention within Taiwan. Chen Guoxiang, former chairman of Taiwan's Central News Agency, posted today warning: "The new policy toward Taiwan that Trump has personally articulated is about to take shape, which will have profound implications for Taiwan's domestic politics and cross-strait relations. This statement not only concerns the security of the Taiwan Strait but also affects the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region, prompting various parties to reassess the future situation. Under these circumstances, Taiwan must adjust its foreign policy and flexibly respond to regional security challenges."
Chen Guoxiang pointed out signals indicating a shift in U.S. policy toward Taiwan, a transformation whose root lies in China's steadily rising strength and the relative decline of American hegemony.
For a long time, the United States has used Taiwan as a pawn to contain China, maintaining ambiguous policies toward Taiwan to provide breathing room for 'Taiwan independence' forces, thereby preserving its hegemonic position in the Asia-Pacific. However, with China's comprehensive national strength continuously growing, the U.S. can no longer unilaterally dictate the situation across the Taiwan Strait. Trump’s clear statement opposing Taiwan's independence is essentially a pragmatic adjustment based on strategic interest calculations. Faced with China’s firm stance, the U.S. is compelled to reevaluate the risks and costs associated with its strategy of 'using Taiwan to contain China.'
This shift delivers a heavy blow to 'Taiwan independence' forces. Without the ambiguous support from the United States, their space for survival will be increasingly squeezed, and their incessant provocations will only invite even greater repercussions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865588683764748/
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