Obama-Hu Summit: Military Sales to Taiwan Uncertain

When the Sino-American summit concluded, former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) assistant representative, David Huang, felt that when the 2009 Sino-American Communiqué was issued, both the blue and green parties were correct in saying that Taiwan was harmed. This time it is completely the same, word for word. The Taiwanese government resumed the story that there was no injury to Taiwan. We feel that this “harm” is a more institutional harm to Taiwan. Now Taiwan faces an even more severe challenge.

The Taiwan think tank held a symposium called “New challenge? Old challenge? Observations after the Hu-Obama Summit.” Academica Sinica Europe-America research fellow Lin Zhengyi said that Obama reaffirmed the Taiwan Relations Act. Obama’s attitude towards “Taiwanese demands for military equipment such as the F-16C/D are still unknown and, therefore, it is hard to be optimistic for the future.”

After the Obama-Hu Summit and joint press conference until the joint communiqué, Taiwan think tank administrative officer, Lai Yizhong, expressed that all “show that America’s policy towards Taiwan has subtly changed. The American side did not bring up former President George W. Bush’s commonly referred to ‘Cross Strait Peace Resolution.’” “[The] Ma government and beloved blue scholars [Pro-China political parties in Taiwan], however stimulating to peace and prosperity, are not aware [of] how close they have brought Taiwan to the brink of marginalization.”

Lin Zhengyi said that “although Taiwan is not the main topic of discussion during the Obama-Hu summit, Hu Jintao specifically mentioned Taiwan and Tibet be classified as China’s core interests.” He also wishes to bring reconciliation to the dispute in the South China Sea on account of it being in China’s core interests. Furthermore, Obama stressed freedom of the seas and the principle of undisturbed trade. He also explained that China’s behavior in the South China Sea should not be considered acceptable.

Cross Strait Relations Tilt Towards Unification

Taiwan think tank counselor and legislator, Zhang Guocheng, expressed “from the Obama-Hu summit one can see that Taiwan no longer hinders relations between China and America. This is due to the Cross Strait ‘High speed tilt towards unification.’ Beijing no longer needs to go through America to influence Taiwan.” How much support would Taiwan receive from America in a future crisis? He is pessimistic about the answer.

Zhang Guocheng also said, “The US is also slowing down the pace of arms sales to Taiwan.” The Sino-US mutual understanding is that Taiwan wants to acquire important military equipment from the U.S. and that may make it harder for Taiwan to do so.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) International Affairs Department Deputy Director Xie Huaihui wisely said, “information originally received at the end of last year indicated that this recent Sino-US summit would not have a joint communiqué.” Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in America representative, Yuan Jiansheng, also made a similar forecast. “Even so, the communiqué grew out of nothing. Whether or not it is true, America appears to have given in to China.”

David Huang, the associate research fellow who recently took over Academica Sinica’s Europe-America department, stated, “America encourages many forms of dialogue in the Taiwan Strait. This type of statement is easily transformed into the internal operation of domestic politics. The blue camp praised America’s support for ECFA but, in fact, the American side only supported dialogue to avoid a cross strait conflict. As for the dialogues result, America has refused to comment and did not assist in the approach to ECFA.”

David Huang also warns, “America encouraging cross strait political dialogue may be a violation of America’s six assurances to Taiwan. So much that America must reaffirm its six assurances to Taiwan and affirm America’s position.”