Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/02/13
By: Yin Jun-jie and Evelyn Kao

CNA file photo

New York, Feb. 12 (CNA) As China is seeking to pressure Taiwan’s government toward unification, the United States should provide stronger support for Taiwan by expressing its concern about China’s increased diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan, a group of 17 U.S. specialists on China affairs said in a report released Tuesday.

In the report by the Task Force on U.S.-China Policy, the authors, however, suggested that to avoid exacerbating cross- Taiwan Strait tension or triggering an attack on Taiwan by China, Washington should not alter its “one China policy,” which was established by the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué and reinforced in subsequent U.S.-China communiques.

While not challenging the claim that there is one China and that Taiwan is part of China , the policy does not take a position in favor of unification, and seeks to maintain stability in the strait by insisting on a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue, the task force wrote.

“Clarity and continuity in U.S. policy will be particularly important during Taiwan’s 2020 presidential election campaign, which could increase cross-strait tension,” the task force wrote.    [FULL  STORY]