Cross-Strait Crisis: The Pen Tip, Although Small, Can Be Lethal

By Wang Chin

China Times, June 20, 2020

 

A newly published book by the former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton mentions that President Donald Trump analogized Taiwan as a pen tip in contrast to mainland China as an office desk, concluding President Trump’s contempt of Taiwan. This conclusion has caused extensive interest in the public opinions cross Taiwan Straits.

 

It is a common sense that President Trump does not value Taiwan but regards it as a pawn in confrontation against mainland China, therefore it is not a big issue in mass media, as men of insight have raised this countless times. The so-called the best U.S.-Taiwan relations ever in history is simply a brainwash rhetoric for “grand domestic propaganda” not endorsed by experts.

 

What is noteworthy is the response of public opinion in mainland China. In reporting this news, apart from reiterating the military strength comparison across the Taiwan Strait is no longer the same as in the past, the mainland also revealed a feeling of “Taiwan contempt”, thinking the exposure of Bolton testified Trump is simply using Taiwan. They further entertained a mood of spiritual victory predicting Taiwan will eventually be abandoned by the United States.

 

Mainland China’s sentiment is hardly recommendable. If we view President Trump’s analogy purely from the perspective of metaphor, we may see some clue. If Taiwan is indeed a pen tip, when it pricks in the right spot, it might become a lethal weapon. On the other hand, a big office desk, though bulky, can be too clumsy indeed to use thereby posing no substantive threat to others.

 

In other words, Taiwan, although small, is by no means weak. Taiwan is a crucial hinge in the process of Chinese restoration, if mainland China mismanages the cross-strait relations or if Taiwan is willing to be used by hostile forces, then the impact and loss it causes to the mainland will be immeasurable. Just a while ago, the Chinese hawkish stood out trying to cool down the atmosphere cross the Taiwan Strait, was based on the same consideration.

 

In fact, the current public opinion in mainland China often undervalues the complicate sensitivity of the cross-strait situation. It lacks reasonable imagination of the difficult and challenging obstacles in the process of reunification cross the Taiwan Straits. It inundates with illusion of spiritual victory over the issue of cross straits relations and Taiwan’s function in the U.S.-China relations. Its criticism against Taiwan is prejudiced without touching the crux of the issue. Eventually it results in constant repetition of unilateral claim, without the function of promoting mutual understanding completely and providing essentially constructive ideas in issue resolution.

 

Influenced under this low-end public opinion, mainland Chinese people also unconsciously despise Taiwan, finding Taiwan not worth mentioning while years ago, they saw Taiwan as a model for emulation. As a matter of fact, whether infinitely belittle Taiwan or lavishly tout Taiwan is of no help to truly understand Taiwan and the trend of cross-strait relations. A common sense perspective of viewing an issue is “human effort is decisive,” simply to say, Taiwan will not absolutely be a sitting duck. President Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan is also a chess player, this is not entirely good self-feeling. Many years of operation in United States, Taiwan has won many Taiwan supporters in the decision circle of the United States. They will play a crucial role in the mega U.S.-China game of competition. Even though the U.S. decision-makers intend to betray Taiwan, some of them will come out to play the role of brake pads. Especially, in the current ever-increasing tension in U.S.-China confrontation, the United States will only further promote the importance of Taiwan rather than throw away the card in hand. Even we can see now many policies or acts beneficial to Taiwan are initiated directly by American politicians, this is something about which the mainland must be alert.

 

Of course, mainland China also has operations in the United States. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are engaged in highly keen competition in diplomatic work in the United States. It is not visible in short term to see who is the winner. At any rate, for a long time in the future, China will not see America’s eventual betrayal of Taiwan. From this point of view, the mainland needs to face a deadlock status as a logic reasoning point, rather than wait with self-deception for the United States to change her policy, not even to think the situation is to its interest because of the analogy of President Trump.   

 

From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20200620003783-262104

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