US-China Relations: Trump administration playing 'Taiwan card'

World
Europe

01:43

Though US President Donald Trump hasn't directly challenged the "one-China" policy since he came to office, his administration has been playing what's known as the "Taiwan card". Natasha Hussain has more.

In December, Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act of the United States for the 2018 fiscal year. Some clauses of the act authorize mutual visits by navy vessels between the United States and the Taiwan region.

And last month, Trump signed a bill called the Taiwan Travel Act, which encourages reciprocal visits between Taiwan and the US by officials at all levels.

The recent US approval of a marketing license for selling military submarine technology to Taiwan has only served to increase tensions across the Straits.

China has strongly opposed these moves, urging Washington to abide by the one-China principle, and those of the three China-U.S. Joint Communiques. Beijing also requested the US to stop all forms of military contact with Taiwan, including arms sales.

MA XIAOGUANG, SPOKESMAN TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF STATE COUNCIL "The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the national feelings of the Chinese people. We will never waver in safeguarding China's core interests. Meanwhile, we once again warn Taiwan authorities that courting foreign support to build you up will only invite trouble."

Experts in Taiwan believe the rise of independence secessionist forces on the island is related to the US moves. But the analysts warn Washington just uses Taiwan as a bargaining chip which could be abandoned at any time. Natasha Hussain, CGTN.