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US makes another Taiwan move — Analysis

Washington is following the EU and has announced that it will increase trade ties to Taipei. Beijing was angered by this announcement.

According to Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told journalists that Washington wants to strengthen its economic partnership with Taiwan.

Speaking en route to Japan on board Air Force One on Sunday, Sullivan said the US was “Looking to expand our economic partnership and include high tech issues like supply chains, semiconductors, and other high-technology items.

He noted that America did “We don’t want unilateral changes to existing status quo.” nor “Militant aggression” Sullivan added that Washington expects its “Allies and Partners, in the Region and Beyond” to amplify that message.

National security adviser Joe Biden is headed to Japan along with the President to attend a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quadrilateral, consists of Australia, Japan, India, Australia and the US. According to Reuters reports, leaders from four nations will be discussing, among others, regional security.

Taiwan warns Australia of threat at its ‘doorstep’

Sullivan’s remarks came shortly after EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told the European Parliament earlier this month that the bloc was planning to launch a “Modernized” trade and investment dialogue with Taiwan on June 2.

According to the South China Morning Post, these plans are not new. According to the paper, there has been an improvement in cooperation. The EU director-general for Trade Sabine Weyand is expected to take the lead, while Wang Mei-hua, Taiwan’s minister for economic affairs, will be taking the reins.

The news outlet claimed that the plans for establishing closer ties between the EU and Taiwan had been shot down last year by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over fears that this could worsen the bloc’s relations with mainland China.

However, according to the report, Brussels has since changed tack, with Dombrovskis announcing recently that the EU wants to “Develop our investment and trade partnership with Taiwan in the areas of our mutual interests.

The European official highlighted Taiwan’s “Role as leader in hi-tech” with the South China Morning Post inferring from that remark that Brussels was banking on Taipei’s semiconductor industry to prop up its own ambitious European Chips Act, which was unveiled by von der Leyen in February.

Taiwan’s envoy to the EU, Ming-yen Tsai, welcomed Dombrovskis’ announcement, while a spokesperson for China’s mission to the EU called on Brussels “not to gamble on this issue, abide by the One China principle, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and honor its political commitments with concrete actions.

Beijing’s representative added that China opposed “Any form of interaction or discussion or signing of any agreement that has implications for sovereignty or of an official nature, between any country or organization and Taiwan.” describing the issue as one concerning the “The political foundation of China-EU relationships

Taiwan is an independent territory that has been de facto controlled by its government since 1949 when the Chinese losing side fled the country and established its administration on the island. China regards Taiwanese authorities as separatists and insists that Taiwan is an integral part of China.

Beijing has increased its military operations in Taiwan Strait over the past few years. This is a way to separate mainland China and the island. Top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, have openly said that the use of force is one of the options on the table to ensure the ‘reunification’ of Taiwan with the People’s Republic of China.

Under the so-called ‘One China’ principle, the vast majority of countries refrain from officially recognizing Taiwan’s independence.

However, Taiwan enjoys a lot of diplomatic and military assistance from the US. The US maintains informal relations with Taiwan. Washington repeatedly warned Beijing about the severe consequences of any attempt to overthrow Taiwan.

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