TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Global experts shared their insights on mainland China's policies at the "China Power" annual conference held by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on Thursday. Experts Edward J. Markey, Bonny Lin, Alexander Huang and John Culver highlighted the U.S role in cross-strait relations.
U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey remarked that, "one thing the United States and the west have been slow to learn is that when strong men like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping tell us what they plan to do, we have to believe them." And "if there is a military attack on Taiwan, it will be those living in Taiwan who will bear that price of the consequences, therefore, (the U.S.) needs to be intentional about the risks we take, when crafting U.S. policy and ensure that risks have a tangible reward for Taiwan's security."
A CSIS poll surveyed the public on Twitter on whether China's "new normal" of increased military activity in the Taiwan strait is likely to lead to a U.S.-China, or China-Taiwan crisis or a conflict in a year or two. To which 54.1% of participants responded: it would not take place.
Alexander Huang, the KMT Representative to the U.S., said, "maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan strait is in the interest of all parties. In Taiwan, decades of public opinion have shown the massive majority support of the status quo. Even though the current DPP government does not recognize the 1992 consensus, and suffers the absence of communication lines with Beijing. It has continued to claim the status quo as the official policy.”
John K. Culver, a nonresident senior fellow at the Global China Hub, Atlantic Council shared his perspective, that China's decision to use military force is conditional, and "from the Chinese perspective, abandonment of the basis for diplomatic relations" might likely be a trigger for the CCP to take military action.
Following Xi Jinping and Joe Biden's meeting in Indonesia, whether the China, U.S. relations will move towards a more peaceful path is under close watch by the entire world.