Do Not Overreact to U.S. Sale of Arms to Taiwan

According to the Central News Agency (Taiwan) report, the U.S. Department of Defense announced today that the sale of 32 harpoon missiles to Taiwan (at a price of $43,846,554) has been awarded to the Boeing Company and is expected to be completed by June 2011.

After the news broke, there was once again mounting public indignation in mainland China, and warmongers have raised a huge clamor.

In fact, in this era of new global patterns, the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan can only be seen as a kind of diplomatic and political discourse; the purpose can only be to strive for a greater say in other China-related issues, but it will not change the balance of power in East Asia.

Taiwan checks and balances the U.S. to China’s weight, and also checks and balances China’s weight. Both countries are using Taiwan as a Tai Chi ball and nothing more.

Objectively speaking, Taiwan can have a cushioning and lubricating effect on the current state of affairs between China and the U.S., just as a bicycle axle affects the wheel. In fact, from an economic, cultural and international recognition standpoint, China’s claim to Taiwan is already set as a fact, leaving only political conformity and the return of ritual significance. However, if China immediately uses the military to forcibly reclaim Taiwan, China will cause Taiwan to become pro-American, which will greatly increase the frequency of friction. Not only is it very likely to give people cause for gossip, but it also will create passivity in the international conversation. This is why China always attempts to foster peace.

The likelihood of China and the U.S. breaking out into war is next to nothing; after all, the two countries are seeking to further develop and stabilize their own international statuses. Therefore, the occurrence of military conflicts would not be a good thing. Even if, in the future, there is the possibility of a war, it is only because of an unexpected event on the part of one of these countries, or some other special situation. What’s more, this movement of arms from the U.S. to eastern Asia can only be regarded by the two superpowers as a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood — to stuff the gaps between teeth is not enough.

Now, with the stakes and costs of war increasing daily, the strength of the two countries is equivalent, should it be the case that conflict breaks out. Both sides would suffer huge economic and social losses. In this case, economic prosperity, social stability, national strength and advanced technology create not only the most solid protective barrier, but also give one’s own country its greatest profits.