Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion

by Humphrey Hawksley

The way China and Taiwan handle each other is choreographed through careful parameters, overseen by the United States. In the 2008 presidential campaign, President George W. Bush felt compelled to intervene when Tsai’s party argued strongly for full recognition and a seat at the UN. Bush told them to stay quiet. Eight years later, when Tsai came to power, she refused to commit to a long-standing agreement, known as the 1992 consensus, that Taiwan was part of China. In the consensus, using opaque language typical of face-saving Chinese techniques, Beijing stated, “Both sides of the Taiwan Strait uphold the One China Principle and strive to seek national unification.” Taiwan added its caveat: “Although the two sides uphold the One China Principle in the process of striving for cross-Strait national unification, each side has its own understanding of the meaning of One China.”