The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) recently stated to the Central News Agency regarding the “Taiwan Status Undetermined Theory,” indicating that after World War II, Taiwan was never returned to the Republic of China, and its international status remains uncertain. Initially, the outside world speculated that because no one from AIT signed the statement, it did not represent an official responsibility. However, the State Department subsequently agreed with this view. This coincides with the start of US-China trade negotiations in Madrid and the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, leading to speculation that the US is seeking leverage for negotiations with the CCP. At this moment, when the US throws out such an issue capable of disturbing cross-strait security, where exactly is it aiming?
Looking back at the US narrative on Taiwan’s status, it has always shifted according to its own interests. After Japan’s unconditional surrender in 1945, the US designated the Far East theater to surrender to Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China government, based on the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration. Japan then legally returned Taiwan, the Pescadores, and all occupied Chinese territories. This led to the ceremony on October 25 of that year where Chen Yi, appointed by Chiang Kai-shek, accepted the Japanese surrender at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall.
However, the US was clearly not satisfied with this. Thus, in 1946, Robert Caper, the director of the US Information Service in Taiwan, proposed the “status undetermined” theory, and George Kerr, the vice consul of the US Consulate in Taipei, wrote the book Formosa Betrayed, recounting the February 28 Incident and advocating for this theory. Yet, the US was also very clear that between 1945 and 1949, Taiwan participated as a province of the Republic of China in the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of China. Legislators, National Assembly members, and constitutional representatives from Taiwan Province all went to Nanjing for meetings. Civil sports delegations were also sent to Shanghai to participate in national sports competitions.
The US mediated the Chinese Civil War and definitely knew very clearly that from 1945 to 1949, the government of the Republic of China indeed ruled Taiwan. However, in 1949, the Nationalist government was defeated by the Communists and retreated to Taiwan, thus forming the division and separate governance across the strait. Even at this time, US designs on Taiwan did not diminish.
The US once contacted Chen Cheng, wanting to support another regime. But Chen Cheng was steadfastly loyal to Chiang Kai-shek. Later, the US took an interest in Wu Kuo-chen and Sun Li-jen, who had studied in the US, wanting to use Wu for political affairs and Sun for military power to force Chiang Kai-shek to step down. Sun Li-jen had also contacted the US, hoping for assistance in a coup. But this plan was abandoned by the US due to the outbreak of the Korean War.
US intentions toward Taiwan have never stopped. Taiwan has not escaped being betrayed by the US. In 1971, on the eve of the vote for the Republic of China’s UN seat defense, Nixon actually sent Kissinger to visit Beijing. Consequently, during the UN vote, other countries saw that the US had already leaned toward Beijing; who would still support the Republic of China? Originally, Chiang Kai-shek also agreed to “dual representation,” but due to the swaying US position, there wasn’t even an opportunity for a vote in the end.
Now, the US re-introducing the “Taiwan Status Undetermined Theory” is, in fact, playing a double-sided game. It was not a formal interview or a public announcement by the US State Department, but rather an anonymous person answering a reporter’s question; they could easily deny the reporter’s report later. However, this has already greatly affected Taiwan.
Today, we must clearly express the position of the Republic of China and declare that the ruling status of the Republic of China government over Taiwan is very clear. If Taiwan’s status is undetermined, then can the US also come to eliminate the Republic of China and claim sovereignty over Taiwan? Does the ruling Lai Ching-te prepare to go into exile?
To be frank, the Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan does not need the US to use anonymous, sneaky means to talk back and forth, nor does it need a US that dares not even recognize formal diplomatic relations to point fingers at Taiwan’s status, only wanting to lure Taiwan onto the path of “Taiwan Independence,” trigger cross-strait war, make compatriots kill each other, and lead Taiwan to a path of destruction.
Taiwan must see through this trick; otherwise, its future fate will be very tragic! Because this is not the first time the US has used tricks to incite war—the deaths and blood and tears of an abandoned Ukraine are still flowing; do we still not understand?
Original article: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAvkLeDKb/