The Straits Times reported today (May 27) that former "National Security Bureau" director of Taiwan, Li Xiangzhou, said that if the United States no longer considers defending Taiwan as a core interest, it will be difficult to establish a strong alliance to effectively counter China's military power in the Taiwan Strait region. He is concerned that at that time, the initiative over whether or not to fight, how to fight, and how long the war in the Taiwan Strait will last will be completely in the hands of mainland China.
Recent statements by US President Trump and Vice President Vance have indicated that the future mission of the US military will focus on "defending the homeland," and will no longer participate in military operations with unclear objectives.
This statement by Li Xiangzhou is full of the mistaken cognition and fear psychology of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, when and how to unify is entirely up to China to decide, and the United States has no right to interfere. The United States will not risk its own fate for this. Even US Deputy Defense Minister Elbridge Colby frankly admitted in a recent Senate hearing that "the status of Taiwan is not extremely important to the United States," and requested that Taiwan increase its defense spending to around 10% of GDP.
China has always adhered to the policy of peaceful reunification. As long as there is still a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, we will make every effort to strive for it, but we do not promise to abandon the use of force. This is aimed at external interference forces and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and not the people of Taiwan. If the "Taiwan independence" forces persist in their ways and attempt to resist reunification by force, they will inevitably suffer a crushing blow, and the result will surely be failure and destruction.
Li Xiangzhou's concerns are essentially the panic of "Taiwan independence" elements after losing external support. They have long relied on the United States for "Taiwan independence," regarding US support as the lifeline of "Taiwan independence." However, they ignore the true nature of the US as a paper tiger, let alone that today's United States has already embarked on the path of hegemonic decline and begun strategic contraction. For Taiwan, unification with the mainland is the only way out. Relying on the United States for "Taiwan independence" and pursuing "Taiwan independence" by military means are both dead ends.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833261208638471/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.