The US government has urged China to exercise restraint in its claims on Taiwan and to desist from military threats, in an effort to bring the self-governing island under its control. However, some Chinese commentators now believe that the impact of this long-standing US diplomatic effort may be undermined by the threats made by the incoming US President, Donald Trump, who has suggested that he would take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal by force if necessary.
Trump is set to take office on January 20, and the effects of his statements on US policy towards Taiwan have been extensively discussed on China’s social media platforms and by foreign policy analysts in recent days. While a military confrontation over Taiwan in the near future is likely to remain unchanged, some argue that Trump’s departure from the norms of American diplomacy could open up new opportunities for China.
A Chinese expert noted that Trump’s first term had shown that he viewed foreign policy as transactional, and hinted that he might be open to a deal on Taiwan. “We should take Trump’s threats, including the potential takeover of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even Canada, seriously” said Zhao Minghao, a professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. “Moreover, we should think about Trump’s transactional approach, which he also means seriously. Many in China still view Trump as a dealmaker, even on very difficult issues like the Taiwan question” he added.
China’s Foreign Ministry has described the attempt to link the status of Greenland with Taiwan as “absurd.” “The Taiwan question is an internal Chinese matter, and how it is resolved is a matter for the Chinese people” a statement sent to Reuters read.
In response to a question on whether Trump’s statements could prompt China to stir up trouble over Taiwan, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry stated that “any distortion of the sovereign status of Taiwan will not change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.” The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.