US Reaches Out to China: Taiwan Stands Alone?

Antony Blinken, the strong man in foreign relations for the United States, recently visited Beijing and left several messages that show a change in the discourse of relations between the two powers. Especially, about the support for Taiwan, which strains the relationship between the two global superpowers so much.

Among his loudest statements, Blinden reaffirmed the historical position of the United States regarding Taiwan and China. Washington made it clear that "it will not support Taiwan in its independence", trying to calm Beijing in the face of independence winds that may be sweeping the island. The United States supported the one-China doctrine, which implies recognition that the island is an indivisible part of the Asian giant.

Does Support for Taiwan Still Stand?

Although the United States has made it clear that it will not support independence, it does not mean that it is in favor of unilateral military annexation. The same policy that the North American country has maintained for decades. He provides military support to the island, but tries to de-escalate the diplomatic conflict.

You can also read: Ukraine: This is the Wear and Tear of the Russo-Ukrainian War After 16 Months of Conflict

An example of this was that just 2 weeks ago, American and Canadian warships sailed through the strait that separates Taiwan from China. Although the US Navy stressed that in this area "freedoms of navigation and overflight on the high seas are applied in accordance with international law", it is still an event that provokes and annoys the Xi Jinping government.

The message seems to be the opposite, but what the United States is trying to do is calm down the bellicose discourse with China and send a piece of peace of mind, and also maintain a close ally in Taiwan. Indirectly forcing the annexation of the island to be peaceful. However, China has always reserved the “right to use force”.

One Less Problem

However, understanding these two messages from the United States, Washington is trying to de-escalate a potential conflict that would be devastating for its interests. With an open front in Ukraine, where Russia is waging a bloody battle against Western-backed Ukrainians, a new conflict in the Pacific would be disastrous. Not only because it would open two fronts (even more directly) but it would also represent a possibility for China and Russia to lead a de facto military alliance against a common enemy: the West.

Although China may represent a comparable military threat to Russia, and that together they are a danger, the Asians also have economic and diplomatic superiority. Additionally, today China and the United States have various disagreements and the tension has been increasing for several years. Even during the Donald Trump government, Washington declared a trade war against Beijing, raising taxes on imports from China.

Moments of Tension

Recently, China and the United States have had moments of high tension. For example, at the beginning of this year, there were serious clashes after the discovery of many Chinese balloons in North American territory. The Joe Biden government denounced that they were spy balloons, while China claimed that they were meteorological study balloons.
Likewise, a couple of weeks ago, Washington denounced that China and Cuba are coordinating the creation of a common base that would serve as a location for permanent Chinese troops on the island and further espionage work just 150 km away from Florida.