Don't Be Overjoyed by Trump's Anti-China, Pro-Taiwan Moves

 Don't Be Overjoyed by Trump's Anti-China, Pro-Taiwan Moves

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

August 30, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

US President Trump’s statements often sound like a snake oil vendor, involving extreme bragging, utterly devoid of the stature and comportment of a chief of state of a big power, thus eliciting disputes. However, Trump’s high-handed character, plus the national strength of the United States as a superpower, not only have brought an impact on the international politico-economic situation, creating more disruptions and divides, but also left a far-reaching influence on the future world.

Trump lists China as a rival in strategic competition, engages in a trade war with China, and now wants to deploy land-based medium-range missiles in Asia; US-China relations will be mired in the lowest ebb since the Cold War, casting at new variable in the East Asia situation. In order to shape an image as “defender of the United States” for himself, Trump has obtained short-term electoral benefits, but has allowed US-China relations to step on a historic turning point, moving from friendly reconciliation to hostile divide, with extremely far-reaching impact and repercussions.

Based on “America first,” Trump has no allies in his eyes, nor any so-called international responsibility for the United States. For instance, he forced Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan to renegotiate trade agreements, withdrew from the “Paris Climate Change Agreement” and the “Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement”, the “Iran Nuclear Deal” and the “Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty” with Russia. This has made US relationships with the world more alienated and tense, and also made the US’s original global status begin to shrink, and begin to shake the friendship with its allies. After all, when Trump dealt heavy blows on tariffs against its allies as if treating enemy states, it would be difficult to demand its allies to continue trusting the United States.

Taiwan should not be overjoyed by Trump’s anti-China, pro-Taiwan moves; with regard to the impact on various facets of the world situation by Trump’s gale, Taiwan will equally be impacted. Taiwan should not just look at the short-term partisan electoral benefits, but must cautiously ponder from the perspective of the long-term benefits of national development.

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