Taiwan still the sorest point in fragile Sino-US relations

• Source: Global Times
• [22:40 November 25 2009]
• Comments

By Chen Ping

The outcome of US President Obama's recent visit to China indicates that Sino-US relations have developed rapidly and positively in the current international context, especially amid the global financial crisis. China has been widely believed to be able and willing to play an important and irreplaceable role in dealing with many global issues that no single country, however rich and powerful, can handle by itself. The US needs China in addressing global and regional issues just as China needs the US.

But in essence, Sino-US relations remain bilateral, rather than global, although both sides have vowed to build a partnership to address common challenges.

If we buy into the high profile media coverage, both domestic and international, of the Obama trip, we might easily draw some rosy conclusions. However, if we take into consideration the Taiwan question, our optimism should be muted.

From a Chinese perspective, the China-US Joint Statement released during Obama's stay in Beijing could be construed as the fourth important document in bilateral relations, following the three well-known joint communiqués which have guided Sino-US relations in the past three decades.

In the longest ever joint statement, the two countries emphasized future cooperation on the economy, climate change, energy, environment, and nuclear non-proliferation, all of which are issues that require global e. orts to be addressed.

However, there are no signs that a breakthrough has been made on the Taiwan question during Obama's China trip, although the US reiterated its stance in the joint statement by saying it "follows its [China's] one-China policy."

From the viewpoint of some US officials and scholars, there is another document that they are supposed to honor, or at least keep in mind, namely the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.

Although this Act was understandably unseen in the joint statement, Obama mentioned it, without being asked, in the joint press conference with President Hu Jintao after their meeting in Beijing.

Some Chinese media and intellectuals claims that the bilateral ties are now on an "equal footing" following the establishment of a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century.

Yet, no substantial progress has been made in Sino-US military relations, which is the real barometer of the Sino-US relationship. And the bilateral ties could not be labeled as "on an equal footing" in a real sense when the US still plays a strong military role in Taiwan, China's Achilles' heel.