US' 'Taiwan card' a busted flush: China Daily editorial

When it comes to the question of which should be held accountable for the increasing tensions across the Taiwan Straits — Beijing or Washington — Washington is a thief crying "stop thief".

The spokesperson of the US Department of Defense accused the Chinese mainland of "provocative military activity near Taiwan" that is "destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability". He ignored the fact that the US is in no position to point an accusing finger at China given what Washington has done to aggravate the tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

The spokesperson also said that the United States would continue to abide by the one-China policy. Not only did the spokesperson contradict that assertion with his remarks, but what the US has been doing is also contrary to its reaffirmations of that commitment.

If the US indeed considered Taiwan as part of China, it would find it utterly groundless and unreasonable to view the Chinese mainland's military activities across the Taiwan Straits as unjustifiable and unacceptable.

If it believed that it is strictly abiding by the one-China policy, the US would be careful not to have any official contacts with Taiwan. Neither would it keep selling arms to the island. Its military aircraft would not have landed on the island, and its warships would not keep transiting the Taiwan Straits.

Should the Chinese mainland turn a blind eye to all these activities, which can hardly be interpreted as friendly moves conducive to promoting peace and stability in the region?

It is a no-brainer that the Chinese mainland would react to what the US is doing.

The Chinese mainland has never changed its stance of seeking a peaceful reunification with Taiwan. But it does not mean it will give up the use of force as an alternative when it has no other choice.

Had it not been for what the US has been doing, those on the island who harbor the intention of seceding Taiwan from the motherland would not have been emboldened enough to edge their way in that direction, both in rhetoric and deeds.

Had it not been for the objection to the 1992 Consensus by Taiwan leaders and their attempts in different ways to promote secession, the Chinese mainland would not have intensified its military drills and activities across the Straits.

What the Chinese mainland has done across the Straits is meant to tell those secessionists that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the country's territory and there is no way anyone or any cliques can split it from the motherland.

It is also a warning to the US that whatever tricks it tries to play with the "Taiwan card", it will never get what it wants.