Washington playing with fire on Taiwan question could spell disaster: China Daily editorial

In his opening address at the 78th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on Monday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi lauded the dynamic regional cooperation that has created the "Asian miracle".

But he warned that the region is at a crossroad and what has been achieved needs to be "cherished and guarded".

That is because Washington has its sights set firmly on the Asia-Pacific, and wherever the United States exerts its presence, it causes tensions, political turmoil and war. This has been a common pattern verified by political and military crises all over the world.

Thus US President Joe Biden's remarks about Taiwan on Monday in Japan are deeply dangerous.

When meeting the media in Japan, he explicitly stated that the US would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan if it were ever attacked by the Chinese mainland.

Despite the fact that a White House official said that Biden's remarks did not reflect a policy shift for the US, a view echoed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, what Biden said is not conducive to easing the tensions across the Taiwan Straits, as it will only further embolden the secessionists on the island.

His words have also further damaged the political trust between China and the US, as they are a gross violation of the consensus consecrated in the three joint communiques signed between China and the US, which were the foundation for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and slyly distort Beijing's stance on reunification to portray it as wantonly coercive.

It is true that China will never allow any forces to split Taiwan from the motherland or do anything to make the island a de facto "independent country". But Beijing has always affirmed that it prefers to pursue a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question. And if there is any hope for peaceful reunification, why should the mainland use military force to fight a war which will be detrimental to the interests of Chinese people on both sides of the Straits?

Biden should be judicious in his choice of words if he is going to try and stamp the US' authority on the region. For his remarks once again highlight Washington comfort-clings to the dregs of its Cold War mentality like an alcoholic nursing the final drops in his last bottle.

Like those alcoholics who appear to be functional, Washington may be able to convince some to overlook the damaging dependency that provides a crutch for its distress. But that will only enable it, and in doing so feed its ego as a troublemaker.

That would likely spell disaster for cross-Straits and broader peace and stability, because if the use of military force becomes the only means for realizing reunification, it would be stupid to think that China will not do it for fear of intervention by any other country.