The Tsai Government Should Seek Blessings for Itself Amid the Trump Turbulence

 The Tsai Government Should Seek Blessings for Itself Amid the Trump Turbulence

  China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

 June 1, 2017

 Translation of an Except

US President Trump made his first visit abroad since taking office; from the Middle East all the way to the European continent, he attended the NATO and G7 summits. The whirlwind visit of Trump not only failed to stabilize the chaotic situation in the Middle East and Europe, as had been anticipated, but rather brought more misgivings to the international community. Since Trump came to office, his sharp and maverick personal style had even been questioned by allies as his positions flip-flopped; at the same time, the US political establishment, especially the mainstream media, have had difficulties in adapting to Trump’s style of governance, with negative news stories never ending, and the “Russian connection incident” could even stir up a constitutional storm. In particular, the Trump government’s national security team has not yet been fully appointed to date. Many important top-level civilian official positions remain vacant, leaving the federal government spinning, leading to contradictions in foreign policy moves. The entire world is now facing “Trump turbulence” whose risk is difficult to predict.

Trump’s maiden visit had been considered as the return of US strategic gravity to the Middle East and Europe, and Trump more than once demonstrated his friendship to and reliance on China. However, the US military surprisingly exercised again “freedom of navigation” in the waters near in Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, even dispatching P-3 reconnaissance aircraft into China's EEZ southeast of Hong Kong for surveillance, again making waves in the South China Sea, which had been peaceful for the past six months. However, in fact, Trump did not desire to undermine US-China relations; the fact that the US warships adopted a peaceful posture is the best testimony.

Since Trump came to office, turbulence of various magnitudes has never ended. In foreign policy, he emphasized “America first.” If looking at an altitude at the long course of history, it is but a series of waves in the great gale representing the slide of US national strength. As for Taiwan, which has stressed "Taiwan-US shared value system," is concerned, it is not a good thing as it attempts to rely on the US protective umbrella to counter China, allowing cross-Strait relations to be mired in a deadlock.

Although fault lines of strategic confrontation exist between the US, China, and Japan, room for cooperation and compromise also exists. Wishing to rely on US-China-Japan confrontation as a lever in cross-Strait relations is incorrect thinking. To safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability, what is needed is cross-Strait top-level dialogue and confidence building mechanisms, especially keeping a safe distance from big power games.

Recently, repeated stories say that Washington asked for cross-Strait dialogue and that arms sales could be temporarily suspended; they may not just be rumors. These signals represent that the US does not hope for untoward incidents under the unstable situation in the Taiwan Strait. The Tsai government must be alert to the lesson that then President Chen’s over-manipulations led to cross-Strait clashes which ended up compelling Washington to suppress him. At this moment, maintaining stability is supreme; we should maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, especially, we cannot adopt abrasive activities based on misjudgment.

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