U.S. Caught Between Taiwan and China

Jay Taylor failed to discuss the most likely scenario in U.S.-China-Taiwan relations for the 21st century (“Bush Scraps China Policy of Six Presidents,” Opinion, April 28). The “one China” policy pressed by the People’s Republic of China since it won mainland China by force in 1949 now benefits Chinese worldwide, especially those in Taiwan, more than ever. In the 21st century, “one China” will replace the U.S. as the world power or at least dictate the terms under which we exercise that power.

To Chinese everywhere there is a justifiable bond of history and culture. Our continuing supply of advanced weapons to Taiwan together with our strong business ties, in response to the Bush administration’s repeated pledges to do “whatever it takes” to protect Taiwan from mainland China, is contrary to U.S. long-term interests. In the meantime, Taiwanese Chinese strengthen their business ties with mainland China dramatically, as Taylor points out. And why shouldn’t they?

Blood and business are thicker than politics. And on the chessboard of world politics, all the military hardware and expertise and financial ties we have shared with Taiwan will appear in the arsenal of the PRC in any serious power or economic showdown between the U.S. and China. With the current administration’s simplistic view of things, expect the Chinese to continue to use the good-cop (Taiwan), bad-cop (mainland China) tactic to their strong advantage against us.

John C. McCarthy

Claremont