The U.S.’ Ambivalence Toward Arms Sales to Taiwan

Recently, the U.S. State Department decided not to sell Taiwan F-16C/D jets which can enhance Taiwan’s air defense system, but to assist Taiwan in improving the performance of the F-16A/B jets. Such a decision triggered fierce rejections against the State Department from a handful of senators, who thought that President Barack Obama had acquiesced to China. In actuality, President Obama’s “reserve attitude” on Taiwan’s defense is similar to ex-President Bill Clinton’s. The economy during the Clinton administration, however, was positive, but Obama is facing the most serious economic crisis since the 1930s. The reason why Obama is afraid of China is that China is currently the biggest holder of U.S. debt.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited China in August and his primary task was to explain that the Taiwan arms sale would not be overdone. Nevertheless, the sale of the F-16C/D jets is the bottom boundary, which, if exceeded, will cause China’s anger. For many years, the Chinese communist government has urged the U.S. to obey the 1982 China-U.S. Joint Statement, and the U.S. has gradually decreased its arms sales to Taiwan. However, the U.S. also bases its motivations on the Taiwan Relations Act, which is a domestic piece of legislation to recognize the legal status of assistance to the Taiwanese defense system.

The problem is, does Taiwan’s diplomacy understand the ambivalence between general Americans, the State Department and Congress, and between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party?

Generally speaking, the Republican Party, with a capitalist, property-friendly and anti-communist standpoint, is friendly to Taiwan; the Democratic Party, because of its sympathy to communism, has historically had no aversions towards China’s communist government and seems to often be willing to sacrifice Taiwan’s interests. However, it is not that absolute. For example, Republican Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Bush have all more or less “betrayed” Taiwan at least once, while Democratic President Carter was at least willing to sign the Taiwan Relations Act. Besides, according to many public polls, Americans show a preference for Taiwan rather than mainland China. The reason is obvious: we are a democratic country and Taiwanese society, in many aspects, resembles American society.

However, Americans’ attitude towards Taiwan is also complicated. When I taught in a U.S. high school, I once asked 70 U.S. students in class and found that two thirds of them preferred Taiwan rather than mainland China. But when asked how many would support a U.S. gesture in aid of Taiwan if Taiwan were to be attacked by mainland China, the number of students in favor dropped to less than 30 percent.

Congress has shown more friendliness to Taiwan than the State Department. Many of those who canvass for Taiwan’s interests, because of the ease in acceptance, have spent many years focusing on the Senate and the House of Representatives. Especially in the House of Representatives, these lobbyists can easily develop friendships, but for many years, the congressmen who supported Taiwan have been controversial. For instance, former Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo, who expressed strong anti-communist tendencies, was the number one supporter of Taiwan, but because of racist beliefs, he advocated the revival of many discriminatory rules against black Americans, such as literacy tests.

No matter what, Taiwan has to urge the U.S. to be more proactive in Taiwan arms sales, and not just depend on support from the Republican Party. Meanwhile, the U.S. should also expand the powers of Congress in order to better control the State Department. On Sept. 20, Texas Senator John Cornyn drafted a Taiwan air defense statute and hoped to legalize the sales of 66 F-16C/D jets to Taiwan. We need to tell the U.S.: Selling Taiwan F-16C/D jets will bring $8.7 billion in tangible profits, create 23,000 job opportunities, help the White House and the economy of 44 states. Seeking Taiwan to aid American economic recovery is faster than asking mainland China for help.

The author is an assistant professor of political science in Tung-Hai University.