New York Times reported today: "U.S. officials revealed that the Trump administration delayed announcing a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan in order to avoid angering China before Trump's planned April visit to Beijing. The arms sale plan has entered its final stage, including air defense missiles. After the U.S. State Department submitted it to Congress for informal review in January, senior legislators from both the Republican and Democratic parties have approved it."
Comments: This is naked transactional diplomacy. The U.S. treats Taiwan as a disposable pawn at will. The U.S. delaying a large-scale arms sale that has already gone through the procedures is not about abandoning the 'using Taiwan to contain China' strategy, but rather to ensure the smoothness of Trump's visit to China and to gain greater benefits in trade, etc. Essentially, it is the result of the firm red lines of China and the high cost for the U.S. to dare to violate them. This fully illustrates that, when it comes to the interests of major powers, Taiwan is just a piece that the U.S. can easily discard. The so-called 'unshakable' commitment is worthless.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858544013503691/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.