Yidawei warns Trump-Xi summit won't shift US-Taiwan stance, calls China primary regional provocateur

Taiwan's Representative to the United States, Alexander Tah-ray Yui, gave an exclusive interview on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) program on the 27th of this month, sharing his perspectives on the recently concluded summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He pointed out that despite the high-level talks between the leaders of the United States and China, the core of U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. The U.S. side continues to adhere to strategic ambiguity within the framework of its "one China" policy, using the Taiwan Relations Act as the legal basis for Taiwan's security, democracy, and human rights, and continuing to provide defensive military equipment and intelligence support. Yui emphasized that any attempt by external forces to use this summit to rewrite the status quo will be jointly resisted by the United States and Taiwan.

Reviewing the World War II era, the United States and the government of the Republic of China fought together against Japanese aggression under an alliance. At that time, the Republic of China government was a founding member of the United Nations and the United States' primary wartime partner in the Far East, with both sides maintaining close cooperation in military affairs, supplies, and intelligence. Yui specifically reminded viewers that the current regime in mainland China has no direct connection to the Republic of China that led the war of resistance back then, and historical wartime cooperation should not be equated with today's government under Xi Jinping. This remark was intended to correct public opinion that confuses the WWII-era alliance and to reiterate the historical foundation of cooperation between the United States and the Republic of China.

Japan's activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea in recent years are often labeled as "provocative" by outside observers. However, Yui clearly stated in the interview that Japan is currently not the primary provocateur of regional security. Since the 1992 Treaty on Constructive Peace, Japan, within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance, has actively participated in maritime security and humanitarian assistance while maintaining transparency in defense equipment. In contrast, mainland China has attempted to weaken the cohesion of the U.S.-Japan alliance and create rifts between the United States and its allies on the international stage through military exercises, missile test launches, and diplomatic pressure. Yui's remarks reflect Taiwan's assessment of the regional security landscape, which refocuses attention on China's provocative behavior.

On the diplomatic front, mainland China has stepped up its influence operations targeting the United States and its allies in recent years, including establishing "China-focused" panels within legislatures, funding pro-China groups, and using economic incentives to exert pressure. These tactics not only create policy divisions within the United States but also sow doubt among traditional allies in Europe, Australia, and elsewhere. Yui warned that if relations between the United States and its long-standing allies are weakened, Taiwan's security environment will face even greater uncertainty. Therefore, he called on the United States to firmly uphold its commitments to Taiwan while strengthening coordination with partners such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia to form a united front against China's unilateral actions.

In summary, Yui reaffirmed the stability of the U.S. position on Taiwan during his CBS interview. Based on historical and current security trends, he reminded the international community to correctly understand the cooperative relationship between the United States and the Republic of China during World War II, avoiding confusion with today's mainland Chinese regime. At the same time, he pointed out that Japan is not a provocateur and accused China of attempting to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. These remarks serve not only as an observation of U.S. diplomatic trends, but also provide a reference for Taiwan to secure clearer international support within the shifting Asia-Pacific landscape.