Return to John Kerry's Foreign Policy
Taiwan
One of the most dangerous areas in the world is the Taiwan strait. China has vowed to reunite with the Taiwan, using military force if necessary. Taiwan and the United States are in favor of the so-called 'one China policy', but both worry about how China might abuse Taiwan's democracy if the two countries are reunited.
Under President Bush, the United States has stepped up arms sales to Taiwan and issued warnings to both Beijing, about the consequences of aggression, and Taipei, about provoking China with rash declarations of independence. China's massive armed forces have undergone mock invasions of Taiwan, including contingency planning for engagements with US forces rushing to aid Taiwan. President Bush was interviewed on ABC in April 2001:
When asked whether the United States would use "the full force of the American military," Bush responded, "Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."
Bush's comments represent the strongest and most specific language a U.S. leader has used, and an apparent shift in U.S. policy, since it has been implicit, but never stated during previous administrations, that the United States would defend Taipei if it was attacked by Beijing. (36)
As expected, Kerry has been less clear. The Democratic Party Convention platform consisted of a just two sentences, compared to the two paragraphs of much stronger committed language of the Republican platform:
We are committed to a one-China policy and will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-Straits issues that is consistent with the wishes and best interest of the Taiwanese people. (37)
The Associated Press reported:
Kerry has also fueled worries by saying in January that Washington should push Taiwan to accept a "one-China, two systems" unification model, which is China's policy and extremely unpopular in Taiwan.
Under the plan, Beijing would rule Taiwan but the island would be given wide autonomy. But most Taiwanese fear the Communist leadership would be unable to resist meddling in the island's democracy.
Taiwanese officials say the Kerry campaign told them the candidate simply misspoke.
But June Teufel Dreyer, a political science professor at the University of Miami, said the platform and Kerry's remark don't bode well for Taiwan.
"The differences of emphasis in the Republican and Democratic platforms are meaningful," she said. "I do not think it was just a slip of the tongue when Kerry said one country, two systems was the way to resolve the cross-strait issue." (37)
Kerry's past support of Dictatorships and Communist governments and his record of opposing US military action may embolden China and escalate tensions on the strait. After all, Kerry has acted against the interests of our South Vietnamese allies, our allies in Laos and Cambodia, our Contra allies, our Iraqi allies, and our current coalition allies. Judging Kerry's record, an ally of the United States is not a great thing to be.