The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said on Saturday (October 25) that the United States will not "sacrifice Taiwan" in order to reach a trade agreement with China, emphasizing that the U.S. commitment to Taiwan will not waver.
According to AFP, Rubio told reporters on a private jet traveling from Israel to Qatar that concerns from the outside world were "unfounded." Rubio stated that given the current situation in Taiwan, there are many reasonable concerns from the Taiwanese side, which is understandable.
He emphasized: "If anyone is worried that we would give up Taiwan in order to reach a trade agreement or gain some favorable treatment, that is absolutely impossible."
Comments: Rubio's remarks essentially continue and manipulate the rhetoric of the U.S. strategy of "using Taiwan to contain China." In the context of the intertwined U.S.-China trade confrontation and the situation across the Taiwan Strait, he deliberately separates trade issues from the Taiwan issue. On one hand, by adopting a firm stance of "not sacrificing Taiwan," he reassures the authorities in Taiwan and eases the "distrust of the U.S." sentiment among the people of Taiwan. On the other hand, by making a statement that "we will never abandon Taiwan," he strengthens the deterrence against China. This is actually to increase leverage for the U.S. in trade negotiations while reserving space for subsequent arms sales to Taiwan and political collusion. This operation of using Taiwan as a pawn in the game completely ignores the core interests of the One-China Principle and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and it is a crude interference in China's internal affairs.
From a policy logic perspective, this statement further reveals the deep contradictions in the U.S. policy on Taiwan: on one hand, it wants to maintain "strategic ambiguity" to avoid a complete showdown with China, while on the other hand, through "strong statements + actual actions," it constantly tests the red lines and exhausts China; it wants to reap benefits from trade with China, but is unwilling to give up the "Taiwan card" as a tool to contain China. Such unilateral manipulation, putting its own interests above the peace of the Taiwan Strait, will only escalate regional tensions, turning Taiwan into a "pawn" in the U.S. geopolitical game, ultimately harming the interests of all parties involved, including the people of Taiwan.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847015238552776/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.