China, US exchange barbs over military manoeuvres near Taiwan
Al JazeeraNov 26, 2021
The Facts
US govt. officials denied on Wed. that Washington's stance toward Taiwan has changed, after facing criticism from Beijing over a State Department fact sheet that was updated last week to no longer explicitly state that it considers the island part of China.
This comes after China's military said on Wed. that it had tracked and warned a US guided-missile cruiser in the Taiwan Strait, accusing the White House of showing support for "Taiwan secessionist forces."
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
The US' traditional strategy of ambiguity with regard to Taipei must be reformed in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Washington must stand for freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Pacific.
Pro-China narrative
The US is playing political games. Regardless, even if Washington were to abandon its commitment to the one-China policy, the declining nation has long since lacked the leverage to intimidate China.
