A disagreement between US airlines and the Chinese government has now officially added one more point of contention to the increasingly antagonistic relationship between China and the US after Beijing rejected a request from the Trump administration to discuss the issue.
Following news reports of Beijing’s refusal to discuss the matter, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang stressed Thursday that the international community agrees with the position that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.
Last May, the Trump administration criticized a request from China that international carriers refer to Taiwan as a Chinese territory on their websites, after which US airlines made the decision to follow the White House’s lead on the issue. While other non-US carriers fell in line with Beijing’s order, American airlines, including Delta and United, declined to comply pending further discussions.
The strong rhetoric used by the Trump administration, which referred to China’s demand as “Orwellian nonsense” in an official press release, has raised the profile of the issue as a domestic political matter in the US, where lawmakers and pundits have frequently sought opportunities to accuse the Trump administration of “going soft” on China.
The final deadline for compliance with China’s order was set for July 25. An unnamed US State Department official was quoted as saying in a Reuters report on Thursday that “US airlines should not be forced to comply with this order … We have called on China to stop threatening and coercing American companies and citizens.”
China has not clarified what consequences companies that did not comply would face. Theoretically, any disruption in operations of American carriers in China could be reciprocated by US authorities, considering the scale of Chinese carriers’ operations in the United States.
The Trump administration has been decidedly more “pro-Taiwan” than previous administrations, both in staffing and policy. In a symbolic move last March, President Trump signed a bill that aimed to increase official ties with Taiwan’s government, despite that fact that his signature was unnecessary for the bill to go into effect.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton are seen as staunch supporters of Taiwan’s government. Randall Schriver, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs has dedicated much of his career as president of a think tank which promotes greater official recognition of Taiwan’s international role as a nation.
Trump, himself, indicated a desire at the beginning of his term to use the issue of Taiwan as a card in negotiations with Beijing. He quickly relented under pressure from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who refused to speak with his US counterpart until he reaffirmed a commitment to the so-called “One China” policy.
Taiwan forms part of the islands chain around China’s eastern seaboard. Letting go of Taiwan affects the security of all its allies in the region. It will diminishes the US influence and prestiges amongs its client states. This group forms an important market for the US arms industry. Slowly and gradually China is determined to repossess what it considers it territory. For the US the problems and headaces will magnifies as times goes by. Sooner or later they will withdraw from Asia.
You had already recognised that Taiwan is a part of china in one of the 3 shanghai joint communiques signed between nixon and mao way back in 1972. Are you congenitally stupid or are you just a natural born shit stirrer?.
US is a trouble maker in the world because she has the power to do so and no one has the gut to go against her. Should every country follow her foot steps, there will be no peace for the world forever.
Tough shit….
It’s called exploitation of one’s weakness to extract a favorable outcome during a negotiation.
You don’t seem to appreciate this fact.
One more thing – and perhaps you are unaware – Chinese communist government spends more money on addressing internal strife than on issues relating to external aggression. Trump knows this is what keeps Xiaoping awake at night, and he is determined to play that card.
Not a chance punk China back off or else war is inventable in this area due of the fact back in 2001 america has shown its commitment to support taiwan on its independent state rule which is they duely possess taiwan alone is better economically without china’s communist rule
I am almost certain that war between Communist China and US will erupt should China will forcebly take Taiwan militarily. US will definitely, come to the rescue of Taiwan as promised and US -China war will start. Initially, the war will be limited in South China Sea. In most probability, the US tomahawk missiles will reach mainland military bases. The Chinese response will be Missile attack on US aircraft carriers, Guam, Hawaii and probably US mainland. Surely, Japan will join to support US war with China.. We pray China will think twice times before invading Taiwan, otherwise the whole South East Asia especially Philippines will be in big trouble.
Learn how to spell. What a bunch of rubbish. Lawrence.
Talk is cheap. Nothing is going to happen to Taiwan. Keep hyperventilating.
Lawrence Young I agree with you sir that American govt is worst, murderer,, land grabber, trouble maker around the world. It is very unfortunate that China is emulating what the american emperialist have done to the smaller and militarily weak countries. The case of grabbing areas within the EEZ of the Philippines, the building of islands and militirized it a thousand miles away from their seashores. Ignoring the the ruling of UNCLOS, bullying and treatening with war their co claimants of the islands in the sprathly. Now, China want to get back Taiwan against the will of the Taiwanese, they are much like the American. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and other neighboring countries definitely don’t like the China and American will kill each other with their missiles, torpedos and J-2, F-35 and the B-52 bombers in this part of the globe. We wish that they will do their war in the Pacific ocean away from us. Definitely, crazy Trump will come to the rescue of Taiwan, if Xi of China will invade Taiwan.
Edwin Moore I think he is clear in thought and has better understanding of US and world affairs. He is much better than you as he can communicate in multiple languages and put his point across better.
Bravo, China. It is back to the Paper Tiger days. Call the bluff of this rotten bully Trump.
Now you are telling us that the internaltional community agrees where taiwan belongs. How about the spratley island? Do they agree also?