The principle of "one China" corresponds to the recognition of the government of Beijing as the only legitimate Chinese government, thus including in the territory of the latter also the island of Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China refuses to have trade and diplomatic exchanges with any country that refuses given principles, so during the Seventies, most UN member countries accepted the existence of only one China. In fact, since 1979 the United States have recognized the political situation which has arisen. However, they have always found themselves in a dangerous middle ground because they still maintain good relations with the Taiwanese Government.
This political ambiguity was heightened when, on April 5, Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen met with Republican spokesperson Kevin McCarthy in the quaint presidential bookstore Ronald Reagan, near Los Angeles. Although the meeting has been officially classified as a passing visit, as Tsai will be on a tour of Latin America where she will visit the allied states of Taiwan to strengthen relations established in the past, the story has aroused substantial international interest, mainly because it is the first time since 1979 that an American political figure meets the highest Taiwanese office on American soil.
McCarthy had already shown an interest in the matter: during the midterm elections he had in fact promised that, if he was elected spokesman, he would undertake a mission to Taiwan to meet Tsai declaring that China "cannot decide with whom he can or cannot speak or in which state he can or cannot go". The decision to hold the meeting on American soil, however, shows a more moderate policy from McCarthy's side.
The meeting focused on the deep relationships between the two states: McCarthy called Tsai a "great friend of America" and declared himself "positive on the search of new ways in which Americans and Taiwanese can continue to work together and promote economic freedom, democracy, peace and stability". This great friendship is described by the American Speaker as a "matter of deep importance for the free world" and the bond between the two countries has been defined as "stronger now than at any other time".
The US politician also stressed the importance of continuing the daily sale and dispatch of arms to Taiwan, as well as the profound need to strengthen economic cooperation and technological exchange. This overt opening to the island of Taiwan, coupled with the statement to expect "more meetings like this in the future", severely tests the middle position maintained by the United States during the last few years. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also strengthened the American vision in this regard, declaring that any action of Chinese annexation could cause repercussions "for every state on earth".
Tsai’s positions are obviously in stark contrast to those of Beijing since it is a strong supporter of popular sovereignty and of people's Taiwanese right to decide their own future independently. The Taiwanese representative called McCarthy’s hospitality "warm as the Californian sun" and said with joy that the presence and constant American support remind the people of Taiwan not to be isolated, not to be alone. Tsai’s statements remained moderate, however, assuring that the Taiwanese government would not act rashly, but would not agree to be subdued by Chinese power.
Although the meeting was less impressive than last year’s visit of Nancy Pelosi, which had caused days of military exercises by the Chinese government, Beijing quickly developed a harsh line in response to the event.
The following day, the Chinese Foreign Minister condemned the event: "in response to the erroneous act of collusion between the United States and Taiwan, China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity", he declared publicly. The Chinese Defense Minister warned that the People’s Liberation Army would maintain strong vigilance and called on the US government to "stop this blatant interference in the Chinese internal affairs".
The exercise of about 200 Chinese aircraft carriers a few days later off the coast of Taiwan can certainly be traced back to a test of strength in Beijing: in response to the Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng announcing the importance of keeping the situation under control, although he admitted that the exercise did not lead to any aerial takeoff and that the latter did not seem to have bellicose intentions, underlining however the "sensitive" timing that makes the situation potentially dangerous. According to Chiu, Xi Jinping’s policy is trying to create a "new normality" in the area in terms of stronger Chinese influence, although he later confirmed the presence of an American aircraft carrier during the exercise.
On 7 April, sanctions were announced by the Beijing government against the Reagan Library and other American institutions: the Chinese Foreign Minister reported that these sanctions, purely commercial, were applied because "despite repeated representations and the firm opposition of China, the United States has insisted on allowing the Taiwanese leader to transit American territory to engage in political activities".
It is interesting to note, however, that in America the issue finds a general consensus at the institutional level, with more than half a dozen Democratic and Republican legislators attending the event, but less at the popular level, since outside the library were recorded disagreements and protests, subsequently suppressed by the police, by groups pro and against Taiwan.
Translated by Cristiana Azoitei
Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2023
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/0...
https://www.dw.com/en/us-mccar...
https://www.ansa.it/sito/notiz...
https://www.theguardian.com/wo...
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Lorenzo Graziani
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USA Taiwan Cina Los Angeles Framing the World Tsai Ing-wen Kevin McCarthy