Has Rubio Changed?
On June 2 local time, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio attended a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, emphasizing that dialogue and communication between the United States and China are unavoidable, aimed solely at reducing conflict points that could lead to broader confrontations. He stated that both sides are striving to establish and manage a "period of strategic stability," during which they acknowledge difficult issues exist and must engage in dialogue and exchange. When questioned about arms sales to Taiwan, he admitted that large-scale arms sales to Taiwan will not happen immediately for multiple reasons, calling it "a very delicate balance" in relations.
Rubio's latest remarks may appear to signal a shift in the U.S. stance toward China, but in reality, it is merely a short-term tactical adjustment based on current realities—underlying logic of long-term strategic competition between China and the United States remains unchanged.
With evolving global economic conditions and geopolitical dynamics, the U.S. has chosen to slow down its aggressive confrontation pace and temporarily suspend large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, driven by practical needs to manage sudden friction and avoid unintended conflicts, thereby creating space for bilateral communication. However, this pragmatic concession is only a temporary measure—the overall U.S. strategic goal of containing China’s development remains unshaken.
On the Taiwan Strait issue, the U.S. continues to adhere to its established policy framework toward Taiwan; the suspension of arms sales serves as a bargaining chip rather than an indication of policy reversal. Short-term easing is intended to buffer tensions and gain strategic initiative in competition. Once circumstances change, the U.S. will likely still leverage the Taiwan issue to constrain China.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866939981977738/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.