Concern after Trump's words about Taiwan: "Not good news"
Concern after Trump's words about Taiwan: "Not good news"
Trump does not want Taiwan to become independent, he says after his visit to China.
And the island nation is shaking.
- This is not good news for Taiwan, says China expert Niklas Swanström.
For China's leader Xi Jinping, Taiwan was described as the most important thing before the meeting with Donald Trump.
China has claimed the island nation since 1949. In practice, Taiwan is self-governing but is only recognized as independent by a few countries in the world.
The American president avoided commenting on the issue during his visit to China - but once back in the United States he said:
- I don't want anyone to become independent.
Trump's words are not surprising in themselves – that is the position the US has formally always held – but the way he presented it is all the more remarkable, according to Niklas Swanström, director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy.
– That was very clearly something that was directed at China, so that China would feel that it was a concession from President Trump, says Niklas Swanström.
The Taiwan Strait threatened
The Taiwan Strait threatened
If the US and China cannot agree on Taiwan, there is a risk of war in the important Taiwan Strait, Xi Jinping hinted in connection with the meeting. That would mean an economic disaster with far-reaching consequences, notes Swanström.
– If there were a conflict, trade would largely come to a standstill, he says.
That doesn't have to stop China. The country's economic policy is based on not being dependent on other economic actors.
– When China is completely economically independent and doesn't have to rely on international trade – then the question is brought to a head, says Niklas Swanström.
– It's probably years rather than decades.
– In this situation, I don't see it as imminent that the US would withdraw support for Taiwan.
However, it is highly unclear whether Trump would come to anyone's support in the event of a conflict, according to Niklas Swanström.
– It is now very clear that they will not come to Europe's defense and South Korea is hesitant about how much they can trust the US in the event of a North Korean attack. This is also something that Taiwan needs to start thinking about.
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