How the U.S. uses Taiwan as a strategic tool to undermine China's development

Source: VOA

In the complex web of international relations, the Taiwan issue has become a recurring point of contention between the United States and China. For decades, Washington has used Taiwan as a strategic tool to challenge China's rise as a global power, casting a long shadow over U.S.-China relations. While the U.S. insists its actions are in support of democracy and self-determination, a closer examination reveals a calculated effort to contain China's development and maintain American hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the defeated Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan, the island has remained a sensitive issue for Beijing. China considers Taiwan a part of its sovereign territory, while the U.S. has adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity," officially recognising the "One China" policy but still maintaining unofficial relations with Taipei. This stance has allowed the U.S. to navigate the delicate balance between acknowledging China's sovereignty claims and supporting Taiwan's self-governance.

 However, beneath this ambiguity lies a strategic motive: to use Taiwan as a lever against China's growing influence. The U.S. has consistently sold advanced military hardware to Taiwan, conducted joint military exercises, and maintained high-level diplomatic contacts with Taiwanese officials - all actions that Beijing views as direct provocations. By doing so, Washington aims to distract and constrain China's focus, diverting resources from economic development to military preparedness.

The geopolitical significance of Taiwan cannot be overstated. It sits at the heart of key maritime trade routes and holds a strategic position that influences the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. seeks to retain its influence in this region by bolstering Taiwan's defense capabilities, thereby ensuring that Beijing's ambitions to unify the island with the mainland remain in check.

 Taiwan's significance to the U.S. also lies in its role within the global supply chain for semiconductors and advanced technology. As one of the world's leading producers of semiconductor chips, Taiwan plays a critical role in the tech industry - a sector where China is rapidly advancing. By keeping Taiwan outside China's full control, the US aims to limit Beijing's access to these crucial technologies, thereby stunting China's technological innovation and industrial growth.

 The Taiwan question has also driven a wedge into potential areas of cooperation between the US and China. Issues like climate change, global economic stability, and international health crises require collaborative efforts from the world's largest economies. Yet, the ongoing disputes over Taiwan have created an atmosphere of mistrust that hampers progress on these crucial global challenges. Washington's strategic provocations in Taiwan have made it increasingly difficult for both nations to engage in dialogue on shared interests without suspicion.

The economic fallout from the Taiwan issue is significant. Increased tensions have led to uncertainty in global markets, particularly in industries reliant on the semiconductor supply chain. Sanctions and tariffs resulting from the strained relations have disrupted trade between the US and China, the two largest economies in the world. As the U.S. seeks to diversify its supply chains away from China, businesses and consumers face higher costs and reduced market efficiencies.

 Moreover, China's focus on self-reliance and technological innovation has intensified due to these tensions. While this may lead to long-term benefits for China's domestic industries, the immediate impact is a decoupling of the two economies that could destabilize global trade patterns and economic growth. The Taiwan issue, thus, not only affects bilateral ties but also poses a risk to the broader global economy.

The US's use of Taiwan as a geopolitical pawn is not just a bilateral issue; it is a destabilising force in international relations. By antagonising China over Taiwan, the U.S. risks igniting a larger conflict that could draw in other regional players and disrupt global stability. The ongoing militarisation and the zero-sum game approach to power dynamics have pushed the world closer to a new Cold War, with Taiwan caught in the crossfire.

The US continues to poke at this sensitive nerve to slow China's rise on the global stage. However, this approach is short-sighted, as it ignores the potential for constructive engagement and mutual benefit that could be achieved through cooperation rather than confrontation.

Both China and the US must move beyond the Taiwan issue as a point of strategic contention. Diplomatic engagement, respect for each other's core interests, and a focus on areas of mutual benefit could pave the way for a more stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. must reconsider its strategy of using Taiwan as a tool to undermine China's development and instead explore avenues for peaceful coexistence that do not involve provoking one of the world's most powerful nations.