U.S. should punish China for squeezing Taiwan, says U.S. analyst

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/19
By: Elaine Hou and Emerson Lim

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) The United States and its allies should impose a cost on Beijing whenever it squeezes Taipei internationally, Stephen Yates, a former deputy national security adviser to former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, suggested Thursday.

"I do think that we need to have an international conversation that is serious about how do we attach a cost to the efforts to pressure and isolate the free and democratic people of Taiwan," Stephen Yates, now a commentator on FOX news, said during a media forum held at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

He made the comment in a response to media questions about practical ways for Taiwan or the U.S. to respond to China's exclusion of Taiwan from international organizations and poaching Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

"If a diplomatic ally is taken away, then from my point of view, perhaps the U.S. Secretary of State should come to Taiwan for a conversation," he said.    [FULL  STORY]