Forever the bully, US never gets tired of playing the ‘Taiwan card’

Twenty departments including the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office and the National Development and Reform Commission unveiled “26 measures” on Monday to further enhance cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges. That the new measures follow the “31 measures” introduced last year shows the Chinese mainland is making increasing efforts to share the fruits of its development with Taiwan compatriots.

Since the new measures, which accord the same treatment to Taiwan and mainland compatriots, are aimed at promoting the interests of the island’s residents, the Tsai Ing-wen administration should welcome them instead of intensifying tensions across the Straits by pushing forward its “independence” agenda or seeking the help of external forces to confront Beijing.

The United States has always tried to meddle in China’s internal affairs. From the “Taiwan Relations Act” in 1979 to the “Taiwan Travel Act” in 2018, the US has used its domestic laws to hold cross-Straits relations to ransom and support separatist forces on the island, in order to fulfill its own narrow political goals.

The latest example of the US poking its dirty nose into cross-Straits affairs is the “Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019” (or “Taipei Act”) passed by the US Congress recently. The main purpose of the so-called act is to coerce Taiwan’s existing 15 “diplomatic partners” to not sever their ties with the island, as six countries have switched their diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing since Tsai took office in 2016.

The “Taipei Act” once again proves the US supports “the pro-independence” Democratic Progressive Party administration on the island, as it says Washington will downgrade diplomatic relations with and suspend assistance, including military and financial assistance, to any of the 15 countries that cut off ties with the island.