With Changes in East Asia Geopolitics, Cross-Strait Policies Should Be Readjusted ASAP

  With Changes in East Asia Geopolitics, Cross-Strait Policies Should Be Readjusted ASAP

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

May 23, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

From the grand reconciliation between the two Koreas, and the prospects for a “Trump-Kim summit,” to the grand thawing in China-India, China-Japan relations, and the ceasefire in the US-China trade war, myriad changes have happened in a flash in the big power game theory play, while the strategic changes brought by political leaders in a flash moment have frequently foiled the specialists in international politics. Whether it is Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump, Moon Jae-in, Xi Jinping, Shinzo Abe or Narendra Modi, their changes, though myriad, do not deviate from the main theme: one is observing the international reality, the second is joining the integration of regional block chains formed by the oneness of the global economy.

Although US President Trump has signed such Taiwan-friendly bills as the "Defense Appropriations Authorization Bill" and the "Taiwan Travel Bill," in actuality, the "Three Communiqués” and the "Taiwan Relations Act” have always remained the three pillars of US-China policy. Trump may have used suggestive rhetoric to challenge the "One China principle” and also struck a hardline pose of going to the length of engaging in a trade war with Beijing, in the end US-China trade talks made a sudden turn, with the two sides reaching an initial agreement. It is foreseeable that in the future US-China relations will remains confrontational without going to war.

The Tsai government has repeatedly expressed to Japanese political figures that it hopes Japan will support its "New Southward Policy" and hopes to join in the "Indo-Pacific strategic scheme." Regrettably, the Abe government has never entertained thinking to challenge the Beijing red line, but rather hopes to actively improve Japan-China relations. Mainland Premier Li Keqiang has recently made a successful visit to Japan confirming the two countries will resume relations of cooperation; thus the DPP government’s hopes that Japan would extend a helping hand was only wishful thinking.

The Korean peninsula, which was originally on the brink of a crisis of war, exhibited an opportunity for peace after a summit at Panmunjom between the leaders of the two Koreas. The global picture churned up an earthshaking change because of Trump, especially in the Middle East region. Whether in the Syrian civil war, or the conflict in the Gaza Strip, or even the tearing up the “Iran nuclear deal,” a new flashpoint in the racial and religious confrontation in the Middle East has been ignited. The United States, we are afraid, has no surplus strength to challenge Beijing on the Taiwan question.

Taiwan must merge in regional integration in the short run so as to link up with the world. If we do not change the confrontational stance in cross-Strait official relations, the chances of Taiwan joining regional integration are zilch. President Tsai, upon entering the second half of her term of office, must exert the greatest efforts to readjust her cross-Strait policy.

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