The US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee reviewed the two-term extension of the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 on September 14. Once passed, the already highly tense cross-strait situation will inevitably worsen further.

text | Zheng Ganyan

American politicians are becoming more and more serious in playing the "Taiwan card" in order to fight China. The US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee reviewed the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, which was twice extended on September 14. Once passed, the already highly tense cross-strait situation will inevitably worsen further.

The content of the Taiwan Policy Act includes: First, Section 204 of the Act states that the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative is established, authorizing the US government to provide four-year military aid and $2 billion in military loans to Taiwan, and requiring the US Department of Defense to submit a defense strategy review and evaluation report every year.

Secondly, the bill intends to amend the content of the Taiwan Relations Act, which states the content of the US arms sales to Taiwan, and adjusts it from the current "defensive manner" to "arms conduct to deterring acts of aggression by the People’s Liberation Army."

The third is to designate and give Taiwan a "major non-NATO ally) status, have the same identity as NATO , and breaks away from the past US regards Taiwan as a partner or cooperator, and confirms the membership of the collective security system. The content of the

Act shows that American politicians aim to hollow out the "one China policy". Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang angrily retorted that if there was the Taiwan Policy Act, there would be no U.S.-China relations. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also made harsh words and firmly opposed the Taiwan Policy Act. At the same time, he bombarded the Democratic Progressive Party by any means and wooed US congressmen to engage in anti-China bills. The dream of Taiwan independence in the Spring and Autumn Period will not succeed.

Faced with China's tough attitude, the US executive branch is not optimistic about the possible impact of the bill. US Secretary of State Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan have repeatedly said they were worried about some of the provisions of the Taiwan Policy Act; former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who has a close relationship with US President Joe Biden (Joe Biden), is more direct, writing an article to warn the United States and Taiwan to respond to crises and conflicts. Before making more sufficient preparations, the legislation of the Taiwan Policy Act should be revoked first. Otherwise, over-focusing on symbolic measures will lead to the collapse of the US internal consensus. It can be seen that due to the sensitive nature of the Taiwan Policy Act, it is difficult to coordinate between the executive and legislative departments of the United States alone.

The official Chinese media "Straits Guide" also interviewed Liu Birong, a professor in the Department of Political Science at Soochow University. In the report, Liu Birong claimed that the bill was passed, which is equivalent to the United States vigorously encouraging "Taiwan independence" for China. The People's Liberation Army military exercises may be strengthened, and the mainland may also interrupt several trade products to Taiwan, causing foreign capital to sell and withdraw from Taiwan. Liu Birong declared that after the Taiwan policy and law are passed, Taiwan will become the main battlefield for China-US struggle. He also emphasized that the passage of the bill will allow the United States to "fully control Taiwan's defense policy", and Taiwan is more like a "child emperor" being kidnapped by the United States, and there is no power to say no; he said that China is sure to unify Taiwan, but Taiwan has given up cross-strait dialogue and has always relied on the United States, which brings disaster in front of us.

The Taiwan Policy Act dropped another bomb for Sino-US relations, and its destructive power was even greater than that of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. This incident reflects that American politicians vow to turn Taiwan into the main battlefield for China-US struggle. At the same time, the US midterm election is about to be held, and anti-China is the "box office guarantee" to attract votes. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are willing to provoke the Taiwan Strait crisis so that they can reap political dividends.

However, any anti-China move by the United States will be futile and will only reflect the US's delusion to contain China and its anxiety and helplessness in the face of China's strong development. If the US passes the Taiwan Policy Act, it will backfire and eventually shoot itself in the foot.

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