Excerpt
Resolving the trust deficit between Taipei and Washington should be an imperative for both countries.
Doubts about the continuing value of America’s obligation to Taiwan are particularly aggravated by China’s rapidly increasing economic and military strength. As China grows into a formidable global power, many US observers naturally conclude that relations with Beijing are more important than those with Taipei. As cross-Strait relations have significantly improved since 2008, some American analysts have begun to advocate that Washington should seize the opportunity to walk away from the Taiwan conundrum. Although these ‘abandonist’ arguments do not withstand close scrutiny, they do reveal a developing trust deficit between Taipei and Washington. Resolving this trust deficit should be an imperative for prudent policymakers in both countries.
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