07/10/2019? US-China-Taiwan Relations?
Lecture Topic: Taiwan on the Waves of Changing US-China Relations
Class taken by Dr. Fu-Kuo Liu?
On the second day of Global Governance Summer School, Prof. Fu-Kuo Liu introduces key points on the US-China-Taiwan relations. The main point is US-China-Taiwan have established conventional policy frameworks under the “one-China” principle or “one-China” policy. These frameworks include the US-China three communiques (the Shanghai Communique of 1972, the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations of 1979, the August 17 Communique of 1982), the Taiwan Relations Act (1979), and the Six Assurances to Taiwan (1982).
The Six Assurances was proposed by Taiwan during negotiation for the 3rd US-China Joint Communique in 1982. Based on the framework, the US would not formally recognize China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. However, which China (ROC or PRC?) should be recognized to rule Taiwan is a great issue contested by the three countries. ?While PRC advocates “one-China’ principle by which Beijing claims that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of PRC, the US frames “one-China” policy by which Washington acknowledges that there is only one China but does not recognize Taiwan as part of China. Taipei has rejected Beijing’s claim and appeared to adopt Washington’s policy.
Regardless Taipei’s position on “one-China”, Prof. Liu highlights Taiwan should engage with China. Taiwan has enjoyed trade surplus with China and it would be deficit if Taiwan moved its market away from China. The fact that the current Taiwan government takes side on the US and supports the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy against China has reflected the rise of antagonism with China. Moreover, it has also sparked policy friction between the government and the civil society in Taiwan. In response to this issue, Cheen Kang, a participant from Taiwan, expresses her opinion about generation gap in Taiwan. The older generation prefers to support KMT’s agenda for having closer relationship with China, whereas the younger generation appears to support DPP’s policy for keeping distance from China. These diverging views lead Taiwan to uncertain future ahead of presidential election in January 2020.
Prof. Liu admits that this situation makes more Taiwanese younger generation worries about their future. To get clear picture about the issue, he suggests reading not only one particular media because any media in Taiwan is supposed to be influenced by certain ideology. By reading various media, we will have comprehensive sources to make rational decision in taking side to US-China-Taiwan relations, mainly in cross-strait interactions.
