Mistrust Towards the U.S. Could Be Beneficial for China, According to an Article
In a recent development, a growing distrust and negativity towards the United States among Taiwanese citizens has come to light. This trend reflects increased skepticism about the reliability of the US as an economic and security partner amid evolving geopolitics.
A report published by the Washington-based German Marshall Fund on Monday sheds light on this issue. According to the report, the shift in public opinion in Taiwan could set back US interests, as predicted by US analysts Bonnie Glaser and Jennifer Lan.
The rise in negative views of the US in Taiwan is significant, with 40.5% of respondents holding such views, up from 24.2% in July last year, as per a report by the Washington-based Brookings Institution. The same report shows a 13.9 percentage point increase in the proportion of respondents who view the US as an untrustworthy ally.
One of the key factors contributing to this trend is the US's approach to tariffs and semiconductor policies. The imposition of a 20% tariff on Taiwanese goods, higher than the 15% on Japan and South Korea, has caused concern in Taiwan. This move, as per the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation poll, is a significant factor in the negative perception of the US, with 81.9 percent of respondents believing the tariffs to be unreasonable.
Moreover, the US's semiconductor policies and the construction of fabs by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in the US have raised concerns that Taiwan's strategic relevance could be weakened. This has led to a loss of confidence in the US among Taiwanese, particularly the Kuomintang party, which openly questions US reliability given concerns that US administrations might prioritize deals with China over Taiwan’s interests.
The regional sentiments reinforce a context where the US’s economic policies, like tariffs or exclusion from key trade frameworks such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, may strain Taiwan’s ties with the US, bolstering distrust.
Dismay among Taiwanese could embolden China to undertake riskier actions toward annexing Taiwan, including challenging Taipei's jurisdiction over its surrounding waters, effectuating a blockade, or seizing Taiwan's outlying islands.
To counteract this trend, Washington should emphasize the importance of Taiwan to its strategic interests, approve and ensure the timely delivery of key weapon systems, return to fair trade, facilitate transits in the US by President William Lai, and continue to send delegations of US lawmakers to Taiwan. By doing so, the US can work towards rebuilding trust and strengthening its relationship with Taiwan.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
