March 16, 2004
AXIS OF GOOD FILES:
President Bush’s Muddled Policy on Taiwan (Ted Galen Carpenter, 3/15/04, Cato)
The Bush administration has gone from one extreme to the other with regard to U.S. policy on Taiwan. During the early months of his administration, the president gave a seemingly unconditional pledge to defend Taiwan from attack by mainland China— going significantly further than his predecessors had. He followed that assurance by approving the largest arms sales package to Taiwan in nearly a decade. In marked contrast to the Clinton years, high-profile visits by Taiwanese leaders to the United States have been encouraged, despite Beijing's protests.That pro-Taiwan stance appeared to change dramatically in December 2003 during a visit by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. President Bush publicly admonished Taiwanese president Chen Shuibian for seeking to change the political status of the island unilaterally and emphasized Washington's opposition to any unilateral actions. At issue is the Taiwanese government's intent to hold referenda on sensitive issues, which Beijing believes is the latest installment in an ongoing campaign to achieve independence.
Neither the earlier pro-Taiwan policy nor the latest pro-Beijing posture serves the best interests of the United States. It is not America's proper role to take a position on Taiwan's independence or other issues involving relations between Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy, and the United States should respect that society's democratic prerogatives. At the same time, U.S. leaders should make it clear that Taiwan must bear all of the risks entailed in whatever policies it adopts. In particular, Washington should state that it will not intervene if an armed conflict breaks out between Taiwan and mainland China.
This is one area where criticism of the President's recent policy is well deserved. We should have long ago switched to a many China policy--starting with independence for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet--and in the case of Taiwan we should make it clear that we would be willing to use nuclear weapons if China attacks. Mr. Carpenter's notion that we should leave a vibrant democracy and steadfast ally to fend for itself is craven libertarian-isolationism. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 16, 2004 2:27 PM
We should announce that we will provide Taiwan with nuclear weapons if a NK nuclear test occurs.
Posted by: Mike Earl at March 16, 2004 2:30 PMWhen China tried to intimidate Taiwan before their last election, voters responded by supporting the party that stood for Taiwanese interests rather than capitulation. When intimidated by AQ, Spain folded. We are treaty-bound to protect Spain were they ever to be attacked militarily, and would surely do so. And yet we're supposed to tell Taiwan they're on their own? The mind reels. This is moral bankrupcy of the worst sort.
Posted by: brian at March 16, 2004 2:58 PMWe ought to replace the Spanish soldiers with Taiwanese ones.
Posted by: Joe at March 16, 2004 5:18 PMI would feel for the Taiwanese but when I hear their citizens oppose modernizing and improving their military systems because
1) the US just wants to make money selling them weapons
2) their soldiers are incompetent to operate the sophisticated weapons that the US is offering
I wonder why we should spend our treasure and blood for a country not willing to spend their own.
We should at least ask for a refund of our $3 million.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 16, 2004 7:45 PM