LETTERS: Will normal diplomatic efforts continue to work in Taiwan?

By
A.J. Jarrett, Letter to the Editor
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109

Editor: Irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. These are three words that come to mind when I read about more members of the US Congress visiting Taiwan and watched President Biden in his 60 Minutes interview. I am extremely concerned that the souring relations between the US and China will get to a point where normal diplomatic efforts will be insufficient to repair.

For those who are concerned about US actions to maintain global primacy should expect our elected officials, especially the president, who ‘appears’ to support military intervention when it comes to Taiwan, answer these questions:

1. Do Congressional visits to Taiwan and President Biden’s statement of defending Taiwan militarily make Taiwan more secure?

2. Could they describe to what extent the US will engage China militarily to ‘defend’ Taiwan? For example, time the US will commit to defending Taiwan.

3. Will the US target, and even occupy, areas of the mainland in its defense of Taiwan?

4. If the answer to question 3 is, yes, then will that legitimize China targeting areas beyond those located in the western pacific, e.g. Hawaii or West Coast of the US?

5. Is the Congress and the President just political posturing assuming that China will ‘back down’ from its Taiwan ambitions?

6. If so, what evidence do they have that this will be the outcome?

7. Can Congress and the President explain why is Taiwan considered a national interest?

8. Can those who advocate military defense of Taiwan guarantee that war with China will not go beyond conventional warfare and go nuclear?

— A.J. Jarrett, via [email protected]

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Joe Felice
Joe Felice
5 months ago
  1. It’s called “diplomacy” and a show of support for our allies. It has nothing to do with making anyone “more secure.”
  2. Do not expect the U.S. to reveal military strategy to you.
  3. Ditto
  4. Ditto
  5. There is no “political posturing” and no one expects China to back down. We do expect China to exercise restraint and common sense. (I realize this may be asking too much.) We hope that China will not take advantage of the situation and commit to something that would be reckless.
  6. Ditto
  7. Taiwan is an ally with whom the U.S. has entered into an agreement. Of course, as we have seen with the previous person, we can renege on our word, which means nothing on the world stage.
  8. We would expect that China would employ nuclear weapons. That’s why our government is employing diplomacy. Russia could do the same at any moment. That’s what irresponsible countries and leaders do.

President Biden’s interview on “60 Minutes” inspired great confidence in his ability to lead us through this and any other crisis. It was one of the best interviews with a president that I have seen. The previous guy would have had his hand on the button.

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