If Taiwan proclaims its independence, the U.S Defense Department is concerned about the potential consequences. The extensive array of coastal missiles under China’s control could bring about far greater devastation…
In response to a recent visit by Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai to the United States, China has launched air and sea military drills around Taiwan, signaling a ‘stern caution’ directed at any separatist attempts on the island.
The military spokesperson, Shi Yi, announced that the People’s Liberation Army initiated combined air and sea patrols along with joint navy and air force drills near Taiwan on Saturday.
“The patrols and exercises serve as a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists with foreign elements and their provocations,” Shi added.
Taiwan reported that its air defense zone had been breached by 42 military aircraft since 9 am (0100 GMT), accompanied by 8 Chinese naval vessels participating in the maneuvers. Another statement from the island’s Ministry of Defense states that 26 of the involved aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
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A representative from China’s eastern command stated in an interview, “The patrols and training exercises function as a strong caution to the partnership between supporters of Taiwan independence and foreign entities, along with their provocative actions.”
The patrols arrive one week following China’s foreign minister’s characterization of Taiwan’s vice president and presidential contender, William Lai, as a “consistent source of disruption.” This label was given due to Lai’s journey through the United States on his way to Paraguay, the sole diplomatic ally of Taiwan in South America. China perceives visits by Taiwan’s leadership to the United States as a challenge to its assertions of sovereignty over the island.
The military exercises are also occurring at the same time that US Vice President Joe Biden is hosting the leaders of South Korea and Japan for a historic trilateral summit that has been underpinned by the three nations’ shared concern over China.
On Tuesday, China’s defense minister Li Shangfu warned against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States when he addressed a security conference in Russia.
Decoding US-Taiwan ties
In 1979, formal diplomatic relations were initiated between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Concurrently, diplomatic ties were severed and the mutual defense treaty with the Republic of China (ROC) was annulled.
Nevertheless, the United States upholds a strong unofficial relationship with the island and persistently supplies defense equipment to its military. Beijing has repeatedly pressed Washington to desist from vending weaponry to and discontinue communication with Taipei. On the other hand, China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing, democratic island of Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled it.
Under the ‘Taiwan Relations Act’, the United States is committed to selling arms to Taiwan for self-defense. It also prohibits any use of external force to settle disputes. Through its policy of calculated ambiguity, the United States has worked for many years to sustain a sensitive equilibrium between endorsing Taiwan and avoiding a clash with China. Yet, President Joe Biden has seemingly dismissed this policy, articulating several times that the United States would provide defense for Taiwan if China were to launch an attack.
White House officials have dialed back his statements, reiterating the continuity of the policy. Ultimately, it’s the President’s action to decide the response strategy. Multiple congressional members and several experts, including Richard Hass, the President of CFR, and Research Fellow David Sacks, have embraced Biden’s statements.
They contended that China’s heightened aggression demands a clear stance. On the flip side, differing viewpoints exist among other experts.
Recent approach of US toward Taiwan
Despite China’s objections, the United States solidified its bonds with Taiwan. This move involved the sale of military equipment worth over $18 billion and the introduction of a $250 million compound functioning as its unofficial embassy in Taipei.
Signaling a new era, President Biden initiated the inclusion of Taiwanese representatives in the Presidential inauguration. The United States engages in joint military exercises and diplomatic exchanges with Taiwan, regularly conducts naval operations in the Taiwan Strait to affirm its regional military commitment and encourages Taiwan to elevate its defense financial allocation.
Additionally, Taiwan has garnered cross-party backing in Congress over time. Legislators have put forth and ratified bills aimed at enhancing U.S-Taiwan connections, fortifying the island’s security, and promoting its involvement in global institutions.
The most recent bill on the table, the 2022 Taiwan Policy Act, entails the classification of Taiwan as a significant partner outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) framework.
What awaits next?
As China asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan and has claimed it as an inalienable part of its land, China is committed to eventually bringing Taiwan under its control, possibly resorting to force if other methods prove unsuccessful.
Following the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, tensions in the cross-strait region have been on the rise. Tsai has rejected the approach endorsed by her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, which aimed to facilitate greater cross-strait cooperation. In the meantime, Beijing has taken increasingly assertive measures, even conducting flyovers with fighter jets near the island.
Taiwan’s Foreign minister Joseph Wu alleged that China was seeking to disrupt Taiwan’s Presidential Election scheduled for January. Wu posted on social media saying- “China’s expressed objective to influence Taiwan’s upcoming election is evident.”
During a summit held on Friday, the top officials of the United States, Japan, and South Korea conveyed their opposition to China’s “risky and aggressive conduct”, particularly in staking maritime demands within the Indo-Pacific area.
Concerns articulated by some analysts revolve around the possibility of a Chinese attack on Taiwan to embroil the United States in a war with China.
If Taiwan proclaims its independence, the U.S. Defense Department is concerned about the potential consequences. The extensive array of coastal missiles under China’s control could bring about far greater devastation compared to the historical island bombardments witnessed during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The prospect of Taiwanese independence is closely associated with the possibility of a specter of warfare.
