What is the political intention of the U.S. Congress in passing the so-called "Taiwan Relations Act"?
2000-11-15 00:00
Scarcely three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the U.S. Congress went so far as to pass the so-called "Taiwan Relations Act", which was then subscribed by the President to become effective. A domestic legislation of the United States as it was, this Act contained many clauses that contravened the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States and the principles of international law, and seriously harmed the rights and interests of the Chinese people. One should not fail to note that there are people in the United States who still do not want to see reunified China. They have cooked up various pretexts and exerted influence to obstruct the settlement of the Taiwan question.
Invoking this Act, the U.S. government has continued to sell arms to Taiwan and interfered with China's internal affairs, obstructing the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. In September 1994 the U.S. government adjusted its policy towards Taiwan and did many things in contravention of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués. What was particularly serious was that by going back on its word, the U.S. government permitted Lee Teng-hui to visit the United States in June 1995. This changed the policy of previous U.S. administrations on prohibiting Taiwan leaders from visiting the United States and seriously impaired the relations between China and the United States.
Facts prove that the United States still regards Taiwan as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" and considers the Taiwan question as a card in hand to hold back the development and growth in strength of China. It should be pointed out that the policy of "unsinkable aircraft carrier" was a product of the Cold War era. Today the Cold War has ended and peace and development have become the main themes of the time. It does not accord with the state interests of the United States and the aspiration of the people in the Asia-pacific area for peace and development that the United States sticks to a policy of the Cold War era. The U.S. government should give up the inopportune policy at an early date. Only in this way can its practice accord with the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of the United States and the people of the Asia-Pacific area.
Invoking this Act, the U.S. government has continued to sell arms to Taiwan and interfered with China's internal affairs, obstructing the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. In September 1994 the U.S. government adjusted its policy towards Taiwan and did many things in contravention of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués. What was particularly serious was that by going back on its word, the U.S. government permitted Lee Teng-hui to visit the United States in June 1995. This changed the policy of previous U.S. administrations on prohibiting Taiwan leaders from visiting the United States and seriously impaired the relations between China and the United States.
Facts prove that the United States still regards Taiwan as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" and considers the Taiwan question as a card in hand to hold back the development and growth in strength of China. It should be pointed out that the policy of "unsinkable aircraft carrier" was a product of the Cold War era. Today the Cold War has ended and peace and development have become the main themes of the time. It does not accord with the state interests of the United States and the aspiration of the people in the Asia-pacific area for peace and development that the United States sticks to a policy of the Cold War era. The U.S. government should give up the inopportune policy at an early date. Only in this way can its practice accord with the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of the United States and the people of the Asia-Pacific area.