Only National Interests Determine US Military Aid

Commentary

Only National Interests Determine US Military Aid

Source: China Times
May 10, 2010
Amb. Stephen S. F. Chen & Chih-Yung Ho

President Ma Ying-jeou said during a recent interview with CNN that “We will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan.” In spite of causing concerns in some quarters in Taiwan, Ma’s remarks actually disclosed the nature of the United States’ Taiwan policy.

According to Section 3 of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which the US Congress enacted in 1979, the US President shall “inform the Congress promptly of any threat to the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan and any danger to the interests of the US arising therefrom. The US President and the Congress shall determine, in accordance with constitutional processes, appropriate action by the US in response to any such danger.”

Obviously, Section 3 of TRA shows that any decision on whether or not the US shall dispatch troops to defend Taiwan would be made based on US national interests. In other words, if taking military action in the Taiwan Strait were not in US national interests, the US would not take it even if we knelt down and begged for mercy. However, if US national interests were involved, the US would come to our aid uninvited even if we kept silent. In 1996, US President Clinton and his Defense Secretary decided to dispatch two aircraft carrier battle groups to the waters near Taiwan after the Mainland conducted missile tests in the area. The military operation was unilaterally launched by the US government without any request having been issued from Taiwan.

In fact, since the US severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC) and terminated the ROC-US Mutual Defense Treaty in 1979, our officials stationed in the US have never asked the US government to fight for Taiwan during public speeches or official engagements. Even if the ROC-US Mutual Defense Treaty still existed now, any US military action in support of Taiwan would require a discussion between the US President and the Congress. Of course, the key factor would always be US national interests.

Chen Shui-bian once said that all the state secrets that he had classified as top secret could never be declassified, not even by future ROC Presidents. However, the ROC is a democracy, and the term of the President is clearly stipulated in the Constitution. In this sense, President Ma’s remarks serve only to constrain himself, and not his successors, as he has explained to the public. Therefore, he certainly has the right to pledge that he will “never” ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan during his term of office. What’s wrong with that?

(Source: http://news.chinatimes.com/forum/0,5252,110514x112010051000150,00.html)

Amb. Stephen S. F. Chen was ROC representative to the US and is currently Convener of the National Security Division, National Policy Foundation. Chih-Yung Ho is Assistant Research Fellow of the National Security Division, National Policy Foundation.

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