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The US policy towards Taiwan is "Strategic Ambiguity" [1] That means things like having a de-facto embassy but not calling it an embassy. Having a one China po
by michaelt 4y ago
The US policy towards Taiwan is "Strategic Ambiguity" [1]
That means things like having a de-facto embassy but not calling it an embassy. Having a one China policy, and doing a gigantic amount of trade with China, while not agreeing to Beijing's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Going 35 years without a phone call between leaders - but selling them tanks, drones and jet fighters. Having a "robust unofficial relationship" whatever that means.
People think the US might not defend Taiwan because the foreign policy of the US is that they might not defend Taiwan.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_of_deliberate_ambiguity#Taiwan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_of_deliberate_ambiguity...
- mcv 4y agoI would prefer if the US made it unambiguously clear that they're going to defend a country against invasion. In Ukraine we're seeing what ambiguity can lead to.
- Izkata 4y agoBiden did make it unambiguous a month or so ago: If Taiwan is invaded, we would defend them.
- mastax 4y agoWhich the white house immediately walked back. That's happened at least 4 times now so it's definitely a deliberate strategy. A strategy of deliberate ambiguity, one might say.
- mcv 4y agoWhich means both Taiwan and China have no idea what to expect. And if China thinks the US won't defend while Taiwan thinks they will, you've got a war on your hands that wouldn't happen if it was unambiguously clear that the US would defend.
- hef19898 4y agoWhat makes you think the US, China and Taiwan are only communicating through public statements and press releases?
- snovv_crash 4y agoThis is intentional. If Taiwan knew they could rely 100% on the USA then they wouldn't need to invest in their own defense. This posture puts Taiwan as responsible for their own defense with the US as an insurance policy/economic backstop, in case mainland pulls a rabbit out of a hat.
- actionfromafar 4y agoTrue. In the Ukraine we also see what it leads to when the US draws such a red line, then does nothing when it happens. (Chemical weapons in Syria.) So if you make ultimatums, be sure you can back them.
- hef19898 4y agoI agree. This shows the moral sub-optimal position NATO and Western democracies are in after decades worth of invasions and occupations all over the world.
- sebzim4500 4y agoWhile the US leaves their view on Taiwan's independence ambiguous, Biden was extremely clear in his answer that the US forces would respond directly to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.