Days after Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to take resolute action against those seeking Taiwan’s independence, an apprehensive Biden administration seems to timidly acquiesce to the idea of “peaceful unification of Taiwan with China.” As per media reports, US President Joe Biden’s Asia Czar Kurt Campbell has denounced the island nation’s call for independence owing to the “sensitivities involved” in the matter.
Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell on Tuesday made it clear that the United States of America does not support Taiwan’s independence. When asked about USA’s relations with the island nation which China claims to be its own province, Kurt Campbell said “We do not support Taiwan independence.”
Kurt Campbell, however, supported a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan. He further said “We do believe that Taiwan has a right to live in peace. We want to see its international role, particularly in areas like vaccines and issues associated with the pandemic.”
This comes after Jinping’s exuberant speech at the glaring celebrations of party’s centennial last week. Xi devoted one full paragraph of his speech to Taiwan and declared ‘reunification’ a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China.
Kurt Campbell remarked, “We must take resolute action to utterly defeat any attempt toward Taiwan independence, and work together to create a bright future for national rejuvenation. No one should underestimate the resolve, the will, and the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Jinping in his speech didn’t deviate from the idea of “Peaceful reunification with Taiwan”; however, Chinese hostile policies towards the nation have rendered it politically weaker than what it was under the Trump administration. Under former President Donald Trump’s administration, the United States and Taiwan had enjoyed extremely cordial relations.
The Trump administration had approved numerous arms deals in the face of growing Chinese belligerence. But since Biden has ascended the office, China’s intrusion activities have grown manifolds. While the Biden administration has continuously said that the US commitment to Taiwan remains rock-solid, its ability to walk the talk has significantly descended under the current President.
Previously, Kurt Campbell even backed off from the idea of defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. In May this year, when asked about China’s ramping up of military hardware near and around Taiwan’s borders, and USA’s commitment towards the nation’s security; Kurt Campbell said “I believe that there are some significant downsides to the kind of what is called strategic clarity…”
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Biden administration’s backstabbing of USA’s staunchest democratic ally comes in the backdrop of Japan’s increasingly assertive stance towards the defense of Taiwan. Japan’s deputy prime minister Taro Aso recently remarked, “If a major problem took place in Taiwan, it would not be too much to say that it could relate to a survival-threatening situation [for Japan]. We need to think hard that Okinawa could be the next.”
The Trump administration was adamant at bolstering the defence of Taiwan, and made efforts to nurture Taiwan into a bulwark against CCP’s expansionist ideology. The Biden administration, however, is letting the people of Taiwan and other democracies down by toeing the line that plays like music to Jinping’s ears.