The Strange Current International Situation

Published in The United Daily News
(Taiwan) on 27 September 2023
by Tang Shaocheng (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Pan. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
Recently, the United States, China, Taiwan, Russia, and even Vietnam and North Korea have all paid visits to important political leaders, revealing a new international structure and atmosphere.

In general, the chess match between the United States and China continues to be the top priority in the current international landscape, primarily because the United States sees China as a threat to U.S. hegemony and will try its best to restrict China. As a result, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently held a 12-hour meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Malta, in which the Taiwan issue was said to be the focus. Immediately after, Wang flew directly to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, evidently demonstrating that China is obviously using its Russian card to restrict America’s Taiwan card. Perhaps, however, this symbol of Chinese and Russian cooperation was not purposely meant to be targeted at a third party, and was aimed, instead, at easing tensions, as otherwise, there would be no need to be this brazen.

On Sept. 23, Wang even accepted the invitation to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. There, Wang repeated his old tune, calling on the United States to pay attention to China's legitimate concerns. This was, of course, about the Taiwan issue. One should not talk about cooperation while stabbing the other in the back at the same time. Additionally, neither Xi Jinping nor Wang attended the most recent session of the United Nations General Assembly, instead allowing Han Zheng, the high-ranking but powerless Chinese vice president, to take charge, highlighting how China has more important concerns. However, Han also put forward a warning not to underestimate the Chinese government’s insistence on territory and sovereign integrity, a message naturally directed at the United States and its allies.

In contrast, during Joe Biden’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he made the exception of not mentioning Taiwan and seemed intent on sending a friendly signal to Beijing. On top of this, Lai Qingde recently visited the United States in a very low-key manner, in sharp contrast to Hou Youyi's highly publicized visit. And thus, Beijing’s intentions with their arrangements with the U.S. naturally become clear.

On the other hand, the United States and China are still intensifying the game against each other. For example, North Korea plans on selling weapons to Russia, strengthening cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which will in turn promote trilateral relations between China, Russia and North Korea. Meanwhile, under the leadership of the United States, the trilateral relationship between the United States, Japan and South Korea has also become increasingly close, resulting in increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, a summit between China, Japan and South Korea is in the process of being planned. Xi has also expressed his desire to visit South Korea, with the obvious intention of balancing relations between the U.S., Japan and South Korea. In addition, Biden has also visited Vietnam, planning to provide Vietnam with F16 fighter jets to strengthen its defense against China.

It is evident that the game between the United States and China is still the main theme of international politics. However, since both sides are unwilling to fight each other, both are intentionally trying to rein in the situation. Moreover, both parties are still trying to maintain a friendly atmosphere so that Xi can hold a visit in the United States during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, commonly known as APEC, in November. Whether this will happen is still uncertain, primarily because the United States has refused to invite Hong Kong Chief Executive Li Jiachao to attend the meeting, resulting in Beijing not agreeing to participate. In this treacherous international atmosphere, is a controllable independent Taiwan still the United States’ first choice? What is certain is that in 2024 there will also be a U.S. election, a time when the two major political parties in the United States will compete to criticize China. Currently, Trump leads Biden by 10% in the polls. This is also a situation that Taiwan should pay attention to.


最近美、中、台與俄羅斯甚至於越南、朝鮮等,都進行了相當重要的領導人物的訪問,呈現了國際上新的格局與氛圍。

整體觀之,美中之間的博弈,依舊是當前國際格局中的重中之重,主因美國視中國為其霸權的威脅者,必將盡力制約。因而,中共外長王毅日前曾在馬爾他與美國國家安全顧問蘇利文會談12小時,據稱其中台灣問題是重點。隨即,王毅就直飛莫斯科與普亭總統會見,可見中方明顯以俄國牌制約美國的台灣牌,但又稱中俄合作並不針對第三方,發出了一些緩和的信號,否則大可不必如此放話。

本月23日,王毅還應約與美國國務卿布林肯通話,王毅舊調重彈,呼籲美方必須重視中方正當關切,這當然就是台灣問題,而不能一邊談合作,一邊捅刀子。且習近平與王毅都未參加本屆聯合國大會,由位高權輕的國家副主席韓正擔綱,也顯現中方還有更重要的關切。但韓正也提出警告,不要低估中國政府對於領土與主權完整的堅持,對象自然是美國及其盟友。

相對的,拜登在聯大的演說中,卻例外的未提及台灣,也好似有意對北京發出友善的訊號。再加上,近日賴清德極低調過境美國,與侯友宜的公開訪問形成鮮明對比,而北京對於美方安排的用意,也自然瞭然於心。

但另一方面,美中雙方也還在各自加碼博弈。比如,朝鮮將出售傳統武器給俄羅斯,加強了朝俄兩國之間的合作,更促進了中俄朝三方的關係。但在美國的主導下,美日韓三邊的關係日益緊密,導致朝鮮半島的局勢也日益緊張。相對的,中日韓三國的高峰會,也正在醞釀當中,習近平也表達訪問韓國的意願,平衡美日韓關係的意圖明顯。而拜登也訪問越南,還計畫提供越方F16戰機,以便加強面對中國。

由此可見,美中之間的博弈仍是國際政治的主調,但因雙方都不願兵戎相見,故都有意懸崖勒馬。況且雙方還都在醞釀友善氛圍,以便習近平11月在美國APEC期間舉行習拜會。這是否能成還未定,主因美方拒邀香港特首李家超與會,導致北京尚未應允參加。在此國際詭譎的氛圍之下,可控的台獨是否還是美方首選?比較肯定的是,2024美國也要選舉,屆時美國兩大黨將會競相抨擊中國,而目前川普的民調超越拜登10%,這也是台灣應當關注的情勢。
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