US Suffers China's Backlash over 'Provocative Move' to Arm Taiwan

The People’s Republic of China has predictably unleashed a major backlash against the provocative US decision to sell large-scale arms to Taiwan, an inalienable region of China.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced taking countermeasures against 20 US military companies and 10 senior executives who have engaged in arming Taiwan in recent years.

In a statement published on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is stated in no uncertain words: “No country or force shall ever underestimate the resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In an appeal for common sense and respect for one-China Principle that unequivocally recognises Taiwan as integral part of China, the Foreign Affairs Ministry statement read: “China once again urges the US to abide by the one-China Principle and the three China-US joint communiques, act on the commitment of the US leader, stop the dangerous moves of arming Taiwan, stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and stop sending wrong signals to ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces.”

In terms of the countermeasures against the 20 military-related companies, their “movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, and all organisations and individuals within China shall be prohibited from engaging in transaction, cooperation and other activities with them”. The countermeasures took effect with immediate effect. 

The same countermeasures are applicable to the 10 senior executives identified as agents to undermine China’s sovereignty. However, in addition, the 10 company bosses “shall be denied visas or entry into China (including Hong Kong and Macao)”, also effective immediately.

In 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 2758, recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China. The vast majority of the nations of the world, including the US itself, recognise one-China Principle.  It is a contradiction in the US foreign policy to recognise the one-China Principle, and on the other hand take mischievous advantage in the unofficial relations with Taiwan by maintaining strategic ambiguity.

Beijing has over the years sought a peaceful and amicable reunification with Taiwan. However, some hawks in the US political system have sought to use Taiwan to disrupt China’s rise in international affairs by sowing the seeds of domestic instability.

The foreign destabilisation of China’s geopolitical and economic rise has been targeted at encouraging a tiny minority in Taipei who espouse the notion of breaking away from the rest of China, where they rightfully belong. This tiny minority, located among Taiwan’s political elites, is described as “separatists”. Their illegal activities are covert.

According to international law, China reserves all rights to protect and defend its territorial integrity and indeed sovereignty. It is a stance China has repeatedly took with great care to avoid unnecessary confrontation that could lead to undesirable consequences. However, Beijing has made it categorically clear that any foreign interference in Taiwan is an affront to China’s sovereignty, and that such unwarranted provocations shall be met with fierce rebuke and force, if necessary.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations”. This stance Washington knows too well despite the latest provocation that resembles a “road to no-where” as China has the full military capability to thwart any external threat to its territory regardless of who the instigators are.

The US’s latest moves to use Taiwan to provoke Beijing should be condemned by the peace-loving international community that has upheld the one-China Principle since October 25, 1971. Imagine the reaction of the US Congress if China moved to sell arms to one or more of the fifty states that make up the USA.

I am certain that all hell would break loose. What, then, does Washington expect China to do in the face of such unwarranted provocation? Fold arms? My conclusion is as follows: The US arming Taiwan is nothing less than creating the environment to trigger a civil war in China. At worst, the move can be regarded as an attempt to help stage a coup. President Donald Trump must stop this unnecessarily looming confrontation with China by immediately signing an Executive Order barring any arms sale to Taiwan.

That would be the most visible evidence that the Trump administration seeks no confrontation with China. After all, President Trump’s Executive Orders have the force of law. He must use his power to criminalise dangerous behaviour that could harm China-US relations irreparably. The ball is in his court.

* Abbey Makoe is Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Global South Media Network (gsmn.co.za). Views expressed are wholly personal.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of Independent Media or IOL.