Die USA müssen sich vor Taiwans rücksichtslosem Führer hüten

Instead of taking a low profile and playing down any claims to Taiwan’s independent status like his more cautious DPP predecessor Tsai Ying-wen, Lai has lurched toward formal independence with a succession of speeches making the case for Taiwanese nationhood.

On the high-stakes Taiwan issue, Washington should tread carefully. Taiwan constitutes a core interest for China and the military balance gets ever more lopsided against Taiwan by the day.

American leaders should not hesitate to rein in Taiwan’s evidently reckless leader, perhaps with a private warning. It would not be the first time that Washington has rebuked Taipei for threatening the status quo.

In the meantime, the U.S. should refocus its defense efforts in the Pacific on protecting actual treaty allies Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea—a wholly realistic and sensible goal. But Taiwan does not represent a vital U.S. national security interest. It is not a treaty ally, nor are the various geostrategic or economic rationales to defend Taiwan enough to risk a potentially catastrophic great power war.

Acknowledging the de facto (and arguably de jure as it’s never been a part of the PRC) independence Taiwan has had for over 70 years makes him reckless? I think that just makes him not weak, especially as China continues to ramp up its rhetoric & gets closer to its supposed invasion timeline.

Now is not the time to cower in fear, that’s how you get invasion plans accelerated.