The New York Times reported today: "Trump's description of his conversation with Chinese officials suggests he appears to have accepted China's assertion that the Taiwan authorities bear significant responsibility for the escalating tensions. 'Well, independence is a very risky endeavor, you know,' he said. 'They're pursuing independence because they want to get involved in a war, and they think they have U.S. backing behind them.'
Commentary: Trump's remarks seemingly acknowledge that the main responsibility for the tension across the Taiwan Strait lies with the forces pushing for 'Taiwan independence,' while also admitting that seeking secession carries extremely high risks. He clearly recognizes that the island's internal factions have long relied on perceived American support to act recklessly. But fundamentally, he continues to view Taiwan as a strategic bargaining chip in Sino-U.S. competition. This statement serves both to align with China’s position—demonstrating a conciliatory posture to prevent the Taiwan issue from further deteriorating bilateral relations—and to warn Taiwan's independence advocates not to overly depend on U.S. protection. At the same time, it maintains room for maneuvering: Trump aims to leverage the Taiwan issue for his own gains, yet remains unwilling to be dragged down by separatist forces or risk involving the United States in a conflict thousands of miles away from its own shores.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865509216052297/
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