US President Donald Trump on Mar. 26 signed the “TAIPEI Act of 2019” into law. The action has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, international law, and the basic norms of international relations, and grossly interfered with China’s internal affairs. After the signing, China expressed its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.
The “Taipei Act of 2019” is a terrible act. It calls on the US government to “reduce its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan.” The basic logic is to threaten other countries through hegemonic action and to support the wrong actions that would challenge the principle.
Some people in the United States have repeatedly hyped the so-called “international space” of Taiwan when promoting the act to the international community. However, it should be pointed out that the United States has no right to define the concept of “international space” of Taiwan. The one-China principle is a generally accepted norm of international relations and the consensus of the international community. Under the norm, 180 countries around the world have established diplomatic relations with China. The historical trend is unchangeable, even if the United States tries to stop other sovereign states from developing normal state-to-state relations with China.
The Taiwan issue has long been the core and most sensitive issue in China-US relations. Without it, the foundation of the bilateral relationship would be shaken. If the United States insists on going further and further in the wrong direction on the Taiwan issue, it will severely interfere with the overall situation of China-US relations and with cooperation between the two countries in some significant fields, which would only undermine US interests. The US side should take responsibility for all the consequences it causes.
For a long time, some people in the United States have shown willfulness and arrogance with regard to relations with China, and they have even stepped on the “red line” as a provocation. At a recent G7 meeting, the United States blatantly disregarded international morality and attempted to stigmatize China in a #COVID19 document, which faced opposition even among its traditional allies. The United States cannot define international justice based on its private interests.
China-US relations are at a critical turning point. China hopes the United States will take substantive actions to improve bilateral relations. On the Taiwan issue especially, which is the foundation of the bilateral relationship, the United States needs to be sober-minded and adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques to remove obstacles in the development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation
