Taiwan Troubles: Why Washington Tolerates China’s Territorial Flex
Washington needs to break the current destructive dynamic with China over Taiwan, but the only way to do that is to fully grasp the drivers of the deepening vicious circle.
But none of this will occur as long as Washington remains wedded to its current one-dimensional, largely politically-driven stress on a hostile, zero-sum rivalry with Beijing and hence the notion that China is the sole driver of the Taiwan problem through its military pressure. At root, Taiwan is a political issue, to be kept stable or resolved primarily via credible political and diplomatic actions, including both reassurances and deterrence signals. A recognition of this fact is urgently needed, especially in the United States.
Michael D. Swaine is the director of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft’s East Asia Program.
Image: Reuters