Taiwan Caucus a US Provocation: Commentary

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 08, 2002

Taiwan Caucus a US Provocation: Commentary

On April 9, the 23rd anniversary of the United States' troublemaking Taiwan Relations Act, the US Congress is due to unveil a 70-member Taiwan caucus.

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On April 9, the 23rd anniversary of the United States' troublemaking Taiwan Relations Act, the US Congress is due to unveil a 70-member Taiwan caucus.

Most congressional caucuses are issue-based or for particular racial groups but this one will be devoted solely to Taiwan, an inalienable part of China.

It is claimed that the caucus will serve as an official channel for legislators from both the United States and the island to exchange ideas.

Such a provocative move will obviously overshadow the renewed Sino-US relations. On a more dangerous level, it may provide fodder to Taiwan's military forces and play into the hands of Taiwan separatist extremists.

One of the group's goals is to promote US military ties with Taiwan.

This comes at a time when there have been conspicuous signs of ever-increasing US-Taiwan military ties.

In mid-March, the US side granted Taiwan "Defence Minister" Tang Yiau-ming a visa so he could attend a conference sponsored by US military contractors in Florida. On the sidelines of the conference, he met senior Bush administration officials including Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly.

On March 22, Admiral Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee that the United States and Taiwan can maintain a military balance across the Taiwan Straits if both sides continue modernizing their armed forces.

It seems that this so-called military balance is what Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian wants.

Last Wednesday when receiving a special delegation from the US House of Representatives, Chen said that the strong support of the US Congress - which led to US arms sales to Taiwan in April last year - ensured a balanced cross-Straits military situation and peace in the Taiwan Straits.

"President Bush reaffirmed the US promises to all Taiwanese and repeatedly declared he would abide by the Taiwan Relations Act - to provide Taiwan with the necessary protection against Beijing," Chen was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying.

In most cases, those who sow the wind will reap a whirlwind.

The robust military build-up may not bring the so-called balance but menace instead cross-Straits peace and stability.

Helping Taiwan build its military muscle will only foment pro-independence forces. Since the latest remarks and events may give these forces the impression that the United States is on their side and ready to provide military protection, they may become provocative enough to push the island to the edge.

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