The United States and China have often had points of disagreement, for many different reasons. Recently, for example, were the human rights (read especially Tibet, a fixture in March) and the potential Chinese military, especially naval , to reach the center of attention.
Between the two giants and their distances, he has always found space Taiwan.
one year now, however, things seem to change, but in general for all in a decisive way to Taipei.
From 2000 until early 2008, Taiwan was ruled by Democratic Progressive Party , in the person of President Chen Shui-bian . The leitmotif of His foreign policy has been pushing for formal independence (in fact, Taiwan is already independent, having its own army, its own currency and its institutions) or at least a majority of the island international recognition through participation in organizations such as the ' World Health Organization and the same UN .
This position has serious difficulties in the U.S. government, led a friend of Taipei since the retreat of Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, and prompted the government in Beijing to release the now famous "anti-secession law " of March 14, 2005, authorizing the Chinese military to prevent any unilateral declaration of independence by Taiwan, by force if necessary.
The fact that the Chinese province of Fujian there were (and still are) more than one thousand Chinese missiles aimed precisely against the island, was (and is) a very tangible demonstration of the veracity of the words mainland China.
Then the turning point. Between January and March 2008, in Taiwan, the legislative and presidential elections have delivered into the hands of the opposition (now majority) all the political powers: the overwhelming prevalence of seats in KMT Legislative Yuan Ma Ying and -jeou sulla poltrona del presidente.
Come conseguenza, nello Stretto di Taiwan si sono sciolti gli iceberg e si è lasciato ampio spazio alle comunicazioni : nel giro di due meetings (uno in giugno, uno in nevembre), è stata autorizzata l’apertura di porti e aeroporti con allegato “via libera” ai voli diretti , ai collegamenti navali e agli scambi postali .
Sebbene il concetto di “ status quo ” non venga toccato e il governo attuale si stia guardando bene dal parlare di riunificazione, i proclami indipendentisti taiwanesi sono decisamente cessati , per la gioia e la tranquillità of all.
Especially the Americans. The newly elected
Obama (and this is the other major change) collected too large inheritance from his predecessor also slipped in a heavy dispute with China: a war in Iraq , a war in Afghanistan , a Iran angry, annoyed a Russia, a recalcitrant Venezuela, North Korea a proud an economic crisis and a domestic and international public debt which, incidentally, is largely in the hands Chinese people are annoying enough trouble already. A
geopolitical crisis between a strategic island protected by an international treaty and a state-continent which holds nearly 700 billion dollars in reserves would not be appropriate.
At least not now.
It is perhaps for the fact that China has this economic benefit that the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has decided to choose Asia as their destination of his first official trip abroad, with the final stage in Beijing.
Travel where you are not in any way touched on the issue of human rights (with a serious disappointment of the U.S. Congress and numerous humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch ) and has instead stressed the importance of cooperation and mutual aid.
Besides, who ever would at home for criticizing its creditor as washing the floors?
course, China needs the United States. Most Chinese goods is purchased by Americans, and if the States were to collapse economically will last into Beijing and all its reserves in dollars.
Besides, who would ever want to see their borrowing without a penny?
decision rather than logic, then. Maybe not universally shared, but logical. However, what this might entail balances Strait Taiwan ? That is, if our American friends "pass over" to the Tibetan issue in official meetings with perfect nonchalance, how they would behave in case of dispute between the two sides of the strait? The arrival of
But certainly makes things easier for everyone. issues relating to political relations between Taipei and Beijing are postponed until after the crisis. Now the three players in the interest cool off and put the economy rather than wedging in strident and dangerous conflicts.
But if Richard Nixon sacrificed Chiang Kai-shek, a real diplomatic ally, to remove permanently Mao Zedong the Great Mother Russia, then Barack Obama (favored by the reciprocal opening of Beijing and Taipei) may well encourage Ma Ying-jeou to continue on this path, giving a cut arms sales to Taipei to please Hu Jintao to or interrupted to military cooperation with China.
Washington and Beijing have agreed to work together, not to collapse. Beijing and Taipei need each other to re-launch, and then open the contacts. Taipei and Washington have realized that they can no longer discuss what is appropriate to speak of independence.
If the two combatants make peace, whoever they are, the third one can enjoy only " things stand." The message therefore is that it will be status quo for much longer, unless of sudden headlong rush.
