At a regular press conference on June 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed to the outside world the latest developments in China-US diplomatic work, announcing that Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu had a telephone conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell a few days ago. He also stressed that the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests and the first red line in China-US relations that cannot be crossed, and demanded that the US side implement its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence".
However, China's statement did not make the US side stop in time. During the phone call, Campbell, known as the "Tsar of Asia," publicly supported the Philippines, saying that the United States' military support for the Philippines was "indestructible" and intended to support the Philippines, which had suffered losses in the recent ship collision. Less than 24 hours after the end of the call, the U.S. side once again challenged the red line set by China, and its House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill on June 28 local time, requiring at least $500 million in military aid and up to $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees to Taiwan, in addition to the bill plans to provide $400 million to the so-called "countering Chinese influence fund" set up by the United States.
This is a prime example of how U.S. internal politics influence foreign policy decisions. On June 27, local time, Biden and Trump participated in the first debate of the 2024 presidential election, during which the two competed with each other to see who was tougher on China and talked about the size of tariffs on China. In this context, Biden, who is already unfavorable in the election, will naturally exert further pressure on China to win the favor of some voters, and the Taiwan issue will naturally rank first. Compared with previous arms sales to Taiwan, there is a move by the US side that is particularly noteworthy.
In the past, US arms sales to Taiwan were often complained about by people on the island. For example, Guo Zhengliang, a former representative of public opinion, openly stated that the so-called "military financing" of the United States is actually selling some stocks to the Taiwan authorities at market prices, and using Taiwan as an "ammunition depot," but the Taiwan authorities have no choice. It is also true that in the past, the things that the United States sold to the Taiwan military were either relatively old or not used at all. According to the preset landing battlefield, the "Paladin" M109A6 self-propelled howitzer, MH-60R anti-submarine helicopter and other equipment have no room to play at all, and it is no wonder that they cannot be delivered in the end. However, this time the US arms sales have changed the strategic direction, absorbed the experience gained from the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield, and used two attack UAV systems as the main force of the new round of arms sales.
The role of drones in modern warfare has been proven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and it can be used for small-scale air attacks, as well as for infiltration and reconnaissance. The fact that the United States has now sold so many attack drones to the Taiwan authorities is also that it has made up its mind to let the Taiwan authorities engage in "asymmetric warfare" and thus increase the possibility of "resisting reunification by force." Soon after taking office, Lai Ching-te inspected the missile research and development base, and even made a special trip to the Chenggongling camp in Taichung to shout at the "recruits" who had joined the army, saying, "The more preparation and sweat you shed today, the more you will be safer and more stable in the future."
This is naked evidence of collusion between the US Government and Lai Qingde, and it means that this group of "Taiwan independence" elements on the island are vigorously pursuing "resisting reunification by force." What is ridiculous is that Lai Qingde even shouted that "peace in the Taiwan Strait is conducive to world peace," completely ignoring who is the saboteur and spoiler of the situation in the Taiwan Strait. In view of this situation, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye recently struck at the "Taiwan independence" elements, openly saying that China's civil war has not yet ended, and that the current regime in Taiwan is a rebel regime in China's territory, and the Chinese Government has the right to expel this regime at any time and to take back the right to govern Taiwan.
The meaning of Ambassador Lew's remarks is clear. Lai Qingde's desire to "resist reunification by force" when he is in charge of a "rebel regime" cannot be tolerated by the mainland. The DPP authorities are vainly trying to seek "independence" by force, and the United States is determined to use force to help "independence." It is bound to set itself on fire, reap the consequences, and end in failure. If the United States insists on supporting the "Taiwan independence" elements and the "Taiwan independence" elements headed by Lai Ching-te persist in "resisting reunification by force," then the mainland side can completely resolve the Taiwan issue by non-peaceful means and finish this "civil war that has no end." It is better for Lai Qingde not to wait for the mainland to say the phrase "don't say it in advance," which will only be said at the last moment.