A senior US official emphasized the need to maintain the status quo when it came to US policy Taiwan on Tuesday, arguing the approach has “stood the test of time”.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations committee, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said “it’s vitally important that the United States continues to be the party working towards the status quo, maintaining the status quo, not being the party that is somehow changing our approach”.
Such an approach would garner broad support from US allies, Kritenbrink added.
“When they understand that we stand for status quo and peace and stability, not for coercion and intimidation, I think it increases partners’ willingness and comfort to stand up with us.”
For decades, Washington has pursued a policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan, a deliberately vague stance on defending the self-governed island should it face armed conflict with Beijing.
US President Joe Biden himself has repeatedly said the US would come to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese invasion.
The State Department, however, has attempted to walk back interpretations that strategic ambiguity was no longer upheld.
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On Tuesday, Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chair of the subcommittee overseeing the hearing, said Beijing was using “increasingly bellicose” rhetoric and tactics that seek to undermine the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
Van Hollen separately referenced those who advocated greater “strategic clarity” in US policy towards Taipei.
Kritenbrink, in response, said “it is much more productive to focus on concrete, tangible means to build Taiwan’s deterrent capability”, highlighting American economic, diplomatic and defense support for the island.
The assistant secretary acknowledged on Tuesday that “precipitous action” by China against Taiwan would be “deeply destabilizing” and “unacceptable”. But he voiced reluctance about elaborating “what may or may not happen in such a scenario”.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. It has consistently opposed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and has in recent years courted the island’s remaining dozen-or-so allies to switch allegiances.
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