The US is pushing forward on multiple fronts:
The US and Taiwan have started formal negotiations on a bilateral trade initiative, a move likely to inflame already high tensions with China.
The first round of trade talks is set to take place “early this fall,” the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement Wednesday. The negotiations will cover aspects including trade facilitation, regulatory practices, anti-corruption standards, deepening agriculture trade and other issues, the office said.
Kurt Campbell was very sensible:
That commitment to peace and stability is why our policy towards Taiwan has remained consistent for decades and across administrations. We remain committed to our One China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances. We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side, and we do not support Taiwan independence, and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means.
China’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the goal of peace and stability. They are part of an intensified pressure campaign against Taiwan, which has not ended, and we expect it to continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months. The goal of this campaign is clear: to intimidate and coerce Taiwan and undermine its resilience.
We will continue to take calm and resolute steps to uphold peace and stability in the face of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to undermine it, and to support Taiwan in line with our longstanding policy.
These steps, across a range of areas, will unfold over the coming weeks and months because the challenge is long term. We will not be reflexive or knee-jerk; we will be patient and effective.
Japan is doing it:
The chairman of a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers working to advance relations with Taiwan plans to visit the self-governed island next week, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
Keiji Furuya, head of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, is expected to meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and defense officials of the island, which calls itself the Republic of China, to reaffirm the ties during the three-day visit from next Monday.
Canada is doing it:
A delegation of Canadian lawmakers plans to visit Taiwan in October to seek economic opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, Liberal Member of Parliament Judy Sgro said on Wednesday, a move that could further stoke tensions between China and the West.
Time for an Australian delegation of cowards lawmakers.
We should do this for any number of reasons:
- to keep pissing off the CCP and maybe even goad into war before it’s ready;
- to keep onside with our allies as we build towards an economic blockade if China does do it;
- to make up for our pathetic response to China declaring war Taiwan from our own Press Club;
- to support the rules-based order, and
- to make it clear to China that taking Taiwan will come at too high a cost.
But no. Let’s “reset” and grovel until China builds five more aircraft carriers.
