China warns Trump administration’s possible abandonment of Taiwan

China Raises Concerns Over U.S. Abandoning Taiwan if Trump Wins Election

China has expressed concerns that a victory by Donald Trump in the upcoming U.S. presidential election could result in the United States abandoning its support for Taiwan. Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Beijing office responsible for Taiwan-related matters, made the comments during a regular press briefing on Wednesday. This statement was made in response to a question regarding an interview in which Trump avoided directly answering whether he would defend Taiwan if China were to attack.

Chen stated, “The U.S. will always prioritize its own interests, and Taiwan could easily go from being a chess piece to a discarded one at any time.” China frequently suggests that the U.S. is an unreliable partner for Taiwan, with the aim of undermining the island’s confidence in its ability to withstand an invasion. The U.S. has traditionally followed a policy of strategic ambiguity, recognizing China’s historical claims over Taiwan while maintaining unofficial relations with Taipei and pledging defensive assistance.

President Joe Biden, however, has repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. The U.S. is Taiwan’s main military supporter and recently authorized up to $10 billion in weapons sales to Taiwan over five years. In response to these sales, China has imposed largely symbolic sanctions on defense firms. China has long vowed to bring Taiwan, a democratically run island with a population of 23 million, under its control, even if it means resorting to force.

When asked about Chen’s remarks, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign referred to comments the former president made acknowledging China as a security threat. The spokesman also pointed to a precedent-breaking phone call between Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen when he was president-elect in 2016. This call was the closest a Taiwanese leader has come to formal U.S. recognition since Washington established relations with Beijing’s Communist government four decades ago.

During Trump’s presidency, the U.S. and China engaged in a trade war, leading to strained ties between the two nations on various issues, including the origins of the coronavirus, espionage, technology, and human rights.

China has continued to exert pressure on Taiwan since the island elected Vice President Lai Ching-te, who is considered U.S.-friendly, as its next leader on January 13. Shortly after the election, Beijing severed diplomatic ties with one of Taiwan’s few remaining allies, Nauru, and its relationship with another Pacific ally, Tuvalu, is now at risk following an election there.

On Tuesday, China unilaterally changed a civil aviation route without consulting Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei. This move brings Chinese civilian aircraft closer to the island. The Chinese military regularly conducts warplane sorties in sensitive areas around Taiwan and has conducted major military exercises near the island twice since August 2022 in response to Tsai’s meetings with top U.S. lawmakers.

Chen reiterated Beijing’s position that the aviation change was within the regular scope of the Chinese civil aviation regulator and restated that “Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory.”