AMAC Exclusive – By Joshua Charles
As the Biden administration abandons US allies in Afghanistan, other countries around the world – both American friends and foes – have taken notice. Nowhere is this more true than in the South China Sea, where Taiwan has suddenly been left wondering if its most important ally might suddenly abandon it in the face of the growing Chinese threat.
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controlled media outlets have also seized on the opportunity, gloating over the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and what it portends for Taiwan. China’s Global Times openly mocked Taiwan for relying on American aid for its defense, saying that “the situation in Afghanistan suddenly saw a radical change after the country was abandoned by the US. And Washington just left despite the worsening situation in Kabul. Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan’s future fate?” If the Americans didn’t keep their commitments in Afghanistan after 20 years of blood and treasure, the CCP asks, why would they keep them to Taiwan?
It’s a fair question in light of all that has transpired in Afghanistan. President Biden clearly didn’t recognize the strategic importance of preventing a hostile takeover of the country. If he makes that same mistake with Taiwan, the results may be even more catastrophic.
First, a little history is in order. Americans need to be reminded why we support Taiwan.
After the allied victory in World War II, China descended into civil war, with the Communists on one side and the Nationalists on the other. The Chinese Communist Party was the victor, and established the People’s Republic of China on the mainland in 1949. The Nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan.
The two regions—mainland China, and the island of Taiwan—have remained under separate governments ever since. The CCP has insisted on a “one China” policy in its foreign relations. In other words, the CCP views Taiwan as a renegade province and expects the rest of the world to adopt the same view. Any government with full diplomatic relations with China must acknowledge this policy, which means few nations recognize Taiwan as an independent country—today, only fifteen total. The United States is not among them.
In 1979, the United States re-established relations with China. In its “Joint Communique” with the Chinese government, the US “acknowledged” China’s position on Taiwan. This was intentionally ambiguous, however, and the United States does not necessarily recognize Taiwan as part of China, as the CCP contends.
Nonetheless, the United States has not affirmed Taiwanese independence. But it has stood for a strong “unofficial” relationship with Taiwan through the nonprofit “American Institute in Taiwan,” while Taiwan maintains a similar institute in Washington. This “unofficial” relationship has included economic and scientific cooperation, but most importantly military assistance. The Biden administration, for example, just recently approved a nearly $1 billion arms sale to Taiwan. This during a time when China has been increasing pressure in the South China Sea just south of Taiwan, and conducting more invasion drills near Taiwan.
Today, Taiwanese independence and security remains important to the United States for three main reasons: freedom, technology, and world trade.
Freedom: In short, Taiwan is a free society, and China is not. Every year, the Freedom House think tank ranks countries according to how free they are, based on an evaluation of the extent to which they respect political rights and civil liberties. Taiwan scored 94/100 for 2021. By contrast, China scored 9/100, and they observed that “China’s authoritarian regime has become increasingly repressive in recent years” under Chairman Xi Jinping. The United States has a long-term interest in supporting free societies around the world against totalitarian dictatorships that seek world domination, like China.
The story of Hong Kong makes clear what would happen should the CCP ever gain control of Taiwan. In 1997, the UK gave Hong Kong back to China after the CCP committed to a “one country, two systems” policy that preserved many of Hong Kong’s freedoms. But over the last several years, that arrangement has been eviscerated, and Hong Kong is now under the same iron boot as the rest of China.
Technology: Whoever has the most advanced technology will likely have the strongest economy, and national defense. Technology is key to US vital strategic interests, especially as the pace of innovation continues to increase. One of the single most important technologies upon which so many others depend are semiconductors. Whether it’s 5G, quantum computing, autonomous vehicles, computer chips, and many currently-existing technologies, semiconductors are essential. Without them, you can’t produce advanced technology of any kind—whether civilian or military.
Taiwan is home to most of the world’s most important semiconductor manufacturers, most notably the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces many of the world’s most advanced chips. In 2020, the Trump administration convinced TSMC to build one of its new chip making facilities in Arizona. This is the biggest onshoring of a global supply chain in American history, one that is very important not only for our domestic economy, but national security. But despite this onshoring, a large majority of TSMC’s chip production continues to take place in Taiwan, and the new facility won’t be fully operational for a number of years. Taiwan will therefore remain crucial to the global chip supply for the foreseeable future. Chinese control of the industry would be disastrous.
World Trade: Approximately 80% of world trade is carried by sea, and it is estimated that 20-33% of that trade goes through the South China Sea just south of Taiwan. In recent years, China has grown increasingly aggressive in its territorial claims in the South China Sea, even going so far as to build artificial islands for use as military bases. If China were to control Taiwan, it would no doubt bolster its claims, and effective control, of the South China Sea, further increasing the Communist dictatorship’s influence over world trade. This would be a threat not only to the United States, but many regional allies and partners like South Korea, Japan, India, and Australia.
The CCP has made no secret about its ambitions to dominate Taiwan and undermine American influence in Asia. For decades, American military preeminence has kept Chinese aggression at bay. But Biden’s debacle in Afghanistan has perhaps convinced China it would have a better chance against the United States than previously thought. Would the United States keep its commitments to Taiwan, or would it fold, even if doing so was chaotic and detrimental to its international prestige? The world is watching to see who blinks first.
What happened in Afghanistan will not stay in Afghanistan.
Well the DemocRats are commies these days so I guess it’s pretty obvious who they will side with. The CCP, no doubt. Get out and vote in 2022. Please. KAG
China is a bully and Taiwan is seen as an easy target. Under this administration they are more interested in currying favor to China. It would in the USA interest to have base in Taiwan to send a message to China that they are not a easy pushover.
This is exactly how Nazi Germany began its conquest of Europe. First by taking over areas it claimed belonged to greater Germany. Just like China says Taiwan belongs to them.
I have been watching even more closely the escalating activities of the Chinese as they relate to Taiwan for the last several weeks now. The Chinese have stepped up both their international PR efforts, to gauge what if any level of real international resistance (physical military push-back from western military powers) there might be, and their own increased military exercises near Taiwan itself. I would expect the CCP is very happy with what they are NOT seeing from either the United States or most of our allies.
Based on the fact that the United States, under the Biden administration, is highly unlikely to mount any sort of a forceful, competent response against China to aid Taiwan, the only two western allies that seem willing to independently send in any sort of naval force to try and assist Taiwan are the Japanese and the Australians. That of course would be insufficient firepower to deter the CCP in their quest to forcibly take back Taiwan and thus control the world’s primary source of all IC chips used to power our technological world.
Lets me honest here. The only nation on earth capable of matching the Chinese military is the United States and we have just demonstrated to the rest of the world that we will allow a band of 7th century illiterate thugs to dictate to us. The United States, under the Biden administration, as a result has destroyed any level of international unity with our allies that might have existed to provide a unified front against Chinese hostility towards Taiwan. We have lost the respect and cooperation of most of our allies and we have emboldened our enemies around the world.
North Korea last week restarted their plutonium reactor, so they can make more nuclear bombs. Now equipped with Chinese designed rockets, they no longer fear the United States. Iran will no doubt feel free to engage in more open terrorist acts across the Middle East. While Putin is already gearing up to re-take more former Soviet territory for Russia. Our allies are all scrambling to build up their own defenses in light of our debacle in Afghanistan, but that would take them many years to create any sort of credible deterrent. Yes I agree with the final sentence of the article above. What happened in Afghanistan will not stay in Afghanistan. That the American people continue to sit by and to allow this to continue only ensures things will get progressively worse.
As expected in relationship to our past history(ie. Taiwan), no real commitment to them has ever been officially stated, leaving the question in the fog of lack of resolve on the part of the U.S. Taiwan is at the cusp of our declining relationship with China, and when push comes to shove, Afghanistan will be the pattern. China and it’s leaders have a far reaching view into the future while our leadership cannot see past their noses…….China’s win, Taiwan’s loss. The incompetence of our leadership is dumbfounding.
We stammer about, stumble and bumble in all the wrong places at all the wrong times….again and again…..make your own list….the southern border, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran sanctions, kissing up to terrorists, slamming our own economy for profit, shunning Israel, making our republic a socialist hot bed, increases in our national debt that spells bankruptcy, a President who is lost, an administration that lies, and lies again to cover the lies. The only question now is how far will this go, before the “mushrooms” grow.
I’m sure comrade Joe has already given up Taiwan in return for all the cash Hunter received for his finger-paintings…that, and for all the electronic votes received during the stolen election.
Thanks for Taiwan history lesson, interesting. A couple of days ago, 60-minutes had a good segment on the chip shortage at current time. Are you sure that had them build plant in Arizona in 2020? The INTEL plant in Phoenix is biggest in USA on 60-minutes.
Have you noticed that many things from new cars, military equipment, new industrial equipment or new video game machines have their production backed up because computer chips are in short supply? Seems like everything but a loaf of bread has computer chips now, and the machines that make the bread are controlled by computerized machinery.
SO … where do these computer chips come from? Taiwan! Over 80% of the computer chips used by American manufacturers are made in Taiwan. Why? Because they do it cheaper, of course. The chips are largely designed in the United States by U.S. companies but the vast majority of them are manufactured in Taiwan.
THUS … if we allow China to take over Taiwan as they (the Chinese government) have been indicating that they are going to, our access to computer chips will be controlled by our number one enemy. Then, to be able to maintain our fighter jets, drones, communication equipment, etcetera, we would have to buy the parts from the Chinese communists. And, remember, they have stated that their number one goal is to control the entire world, including the U.S.A.
Perhaps it would be a good idea if Biden and company quit kissing the butt of Xi Jinping?
If China attacks Taiwan, will America abandon Taiwan? Duh, take a guess.
Let’s all support China. Go to wal-mart at least once a week. Kyle L. P.S. Now known as China town.
I repeat……..China is telling Joey what to do. He and Hunter are China’s partners. Does anyone expect that boob to do anything for the USA?
Way to go Joe. You make me so proud. The only people more stupid than you are the people that voted for you.
China has said they will use make first use nuclear weapons on several occasions. The murderers of Tienanmen Square seem convinced that if they threaten US cities, and limit nuclear strikes to Asia, including US bases and naval vessels, that the US will not strike back at China with US nuclear weapons. Here we see that same thinking that “Americans won’t fight back” that lead the Imperial Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor.
How fast will Biden and the feminized Sullivan cave on Taiwan?
All Eyes better be staying on the Arizona audits the Georgia audit and the rest of the audits. Everything else they’re throwing up as a smokescreen.
When are we going to get these people out of our house?