In small but steady degrees, the United States is undercutting its stated commitment to “one China” by subtly modifying its words. The meanings it has added in diplomatic discourse do not promote confidence that it will continue to honor the agreements it has made. On the contrary, U.S. actions belie those agreements.

China and the U.S. both emphasize that their Taiwan policies have not changed, even though their wording has. The larger problem, however, is that the authorities in Taiwan authorities are bent on independence and rely heavily on U.S. power. This has created an Asian powder keg.

The visit to Taiwan by the U.S. House speaker is a straight-up violation of the one-China principle. It requires no stretch of imagination to see that security and stability will be dangerously degraded if the United States fails to reflect.

The negative influences of the U.S. House speaker’s Taiwan visit are fermenting and will continue to poison China-U.S. relations. Domestic political winds in the United States are stirring up strategic confusion that will inevitably increase the risk of war.

It’s not clear that China and the United States can sit down for truly in-depth discussions that ensure each side can send restrained messages to let the other party get it right. The consequence of failure could mean war, and we’re nearly out of time.

Worried about Taiwan’s fate, Washington imagines that the Chinese mainland might copy Russia and resort to force. Biden administration officials have said they want to see Taiwan apply the lessons learned from Ukraine’s resistance.

The recent conversation offered an opportunity to manage bilateral relations from a strategic height. But because of domestic political strife in the U.S, there will likely be no letup in attempts to amplify “China threat” rhetoric.

The rise in US-China frictions has led some Americans to call for an increase in US support for Taiwan—even a return of American military forces. However, basing US troops in Taiwan will unnecessarily complicate an already complex situation and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The rise in US-China frictions has led some Americans to call for an increase in US support for Taiwan—even a return of American military forces. However, basing US troops in Taiwan will unnecessarily complicate an already complex situation and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.