Global Times
Date: 2018/4/15
By: Zhang Zhixin Source:Global Times Op Ed
The US recently ratcheted up relations with Taiwan.
US President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law in the middle of March
Illustration: Liu Rui/GT
which allows all levels of US officials to travel to Taiwan.
On March 23, Alex Wong, deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from the US Department of State, wrapped up his visit to Taiwan, during which he reaffirmed long-standing US policy toward and support for Taiwan.
On April 7, the US State Department approved granting a marketing license that allows US manufacturers to sell submarine technology to Taiwan. Taiwan authorities claimed that the decision would help lift Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
The Taiwan question has been the most important and the most sensitive issue in China-US relations. Do all these moves adopted by the Trump administration amount to playing the Taiwan card against China?
The acceleration of US-Taiwan relations did not start with Trump’s term. During the administration of Barack Obama, conservative forces within the Republicans were dissatisfied with its Taiwan policy and some pro-Taiwan congressmen were trying to upgrade US-Taiwan relations both militarily and “diplomatically.” [FULL STORY]