TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The complex relationship between Taiwan, the United States, and China has been the subject of ongoing media coverage in recent weeks, prompting many to speculate about each country's future course of action.
During the TVBS Meeting Room with commentator Wenchi Yu on Monday (Feb. 13), former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton weighed in on the matter, offering his thoughts on the next steps the U.S. and Taiwan should take.
Bolton recommended abandoning the notion of strategic ambiguity, which he believes may now embolden Chinese aggression instead of deterring it. "I think it served its purpose in his time, but I think now it may encourage Chinese aggression more than deter it," he said.
Despite Beijing's objections, Bolton also noted that the U.S. and Taiwan maintain full diplomatic relations. "The idea that somehow we have to condition our foreign policy to suit Beijing's domestic political view of its relationship with Taiwan, to me, is unacceptable," he said.
Still, many Taiwanese and people in Washington are worried that the tension across the Taiwan Strait could rise even more. But Bolton views it otherwise. "I think Beijing is bluffing on that score," he continued.
However, Bolton still advocates for U.S. military presence in Taiwan to train and assist the country and to show the U.S. and Europe that it is prepared to "fight for its independence." Bolton stressed: "Hopefully, it won't come to that. But I think that needs to be made clear."
Bolton pointed out that having more American forces in Taiwan and having other Asian Indo-Pacific countries also stand behind Taiwan can convince China that "it has far more to lose and being aggressive toward Taiwan than it could possibly gain."
Bolton also suggested Taiwan in joining alliances in the region and "take advantage of the menace that China is posing." He said: "This is a moment I think Taiwan can begin to escape the diplomatic isolation that Beijing has tried to enforce in the past several decades."
