Trump Regime Declares US One-China Policy Null and Void

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Days before Biden/Harris replace Trump on January 20, DJT and hardliners surrounding him showed they're not going quietly into that good night — for the wrong reasons, not the right ones.

Facing House impeachment this week and possible Senate trial to follow, Trump failed to halt Pompeo's wrecking ball anti-China rage.

On Saturday, Pompeo said the following:

"…I am announcing that I am lifting all (US) self-imposed restrictions" on Washington's one China policy.

Henceforth, US regimes "should consider all 'contact guidelines' regarding relations with Taiwan previously issued by the Department of State under authorities delegated to the Secretary of State to be null and void."

"Additionally, any and all sections of the Foreign Affairs Manual or Foreign Affairs Handbook that convey authorities or otherwise purport to regulate executive branch engagement with Taiwan via any entity other than the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) are also hereby voided."

"Today's" unilateral breach of what stood the test of time since 1979 is replaced by virtual recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state.

Pompeo: "(T)he US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy."

China hasn't officially commented on this development so far.

Addressing Sino/US relations on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the following about Pompeo's tweet on invented Beijing threats:

"Pompeo makes 'lying diplomacy' a byword for US foreign policy, when this US (regime) dented (Washington's) image and reputation as well its relations with other countries more than ever."

Hua noted that Trump withdrew from or refused to accept key international treaties and agreements supported by the world community with few exceptions among its member states, adding:

"For his own benefit, Pompeo unscrupulously suppressed China, and put on stage his "final madness" as his term is coming to an end, and frantically sabotage bilateral relations." 

"His actions will only put him on the wrong side of history and in odds with the friendly sentiment cherished by the Chinese and American peoples." 

"He will be convicted by history."

In response to the Trump regime's announced visit to Taiwan from January 13 - 15 by its UN envoy, Hua said the following:

"China's position on the issue of U.S.-Taiwan exchanges is clear and consistent." 

"The actions of the US side seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. China firmly opposes it."

"There is only one China in the world." 

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China." 

"This is a fact recognized by the international community." 

"The United States made a clear commitment on this in the Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States."

"China firmly opposes any form of official ties between the United States and the Taiwan region." 

"This position is consistent and clear."

The one-China policy agreed to by the US was first mentioned in the Shanghai Communique on February 28 1972 during Nixon's visit to Beijing. 

It stressed the importance for both countries to normalize relations."

On January 1, 1979, the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations agreed to by Jimmy Carter and Deng Xiaoping formally established bilateral relations, ending official recognition of Taiwan, announced by Carter in December 1978."

"The (1992 Consensus) one-China principle affirms a single sovereign China comprised of the mainland and Taiwan."

Early in his tenure, Trump changed US policy toward China since Washington affirmed the one-China principle, saying the following:

"Everything is under negotiation (with Beijing) including one China."

At the time, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said this principle is "nonnegotiable."

It's "an internationally recognized fact, and no one can change it."

During Trump's tumultuous tenure, Sino/US relations deteriorated sharply.

Former US diplomat Chas Freeman said the following about Pompeo's responsibility for wrecking bilateral relations:

His remarks include "factual distortions and willful misrepresentations of the past," adding:

His hostile anti-China bluster "is not a foreign policy but an instance of domestic demagoguery."

He "added to skepticism about the veracity of American officialdom in general." 

Separately last year, Freeman accused the Trump regime of "trying to dismantle China's interdependence with the American economy, curb its role in global governance, counter its foreign investments, cripple its companies, block its technological advance, punish its many deviations from liberal ideology, contest its borders, map its defenses, and sustain the ability to penetrate those defenses at will," adding:

Trump recklessly "declared open season on China…unleash(ing) an undisciplined onslaught."

The 1979 The Taiwan Relations Act  terminated US relations with Taiwan's ruling authorities.

Ignoring US law, the Trump regime reestablished them illegally.

Weeks earlier, Freeman noted that this unacceptable action and numerous others by the US toward Beijing "ensure(d) that virtually no one on the China mainland believes a purely peaceful resolution is still feasible."

"It's been a long time since the danger of war over Taiwan has been as great as it is now."

By breaching its commitments to Beijing, the US "established a reputation in China for faithlessness that precludes anyone there trusting    (its) further commitments."

Beijing, Taipei, and Washington are "nearing the point at which we can no longer avoid very unwelcome choices." 

"Beijing now sees no credible prospect that the issue of Taiwan's relationship with the mainland can be resolved by peaceful means without at least some element of military coercion."

If this occurs and the US intervenes militarily to aid Taiwan, it will risk hugely dangerous confrontation with China — possible unthinkable war no one can win.

No simple solutions to what's going on exist.

US hardline policies toward China are highly likely to stick under Biden/Harris.

Whether they continue the dangerous trend established by Trump or step back from the brink of possible direct confrontation over Taiwan or other issues remains to be seen.

In response to Kelly Craft's announced visit to Taiwan this week, China's UN mission called it a "crazy provocation."

China's Foreign Ministry said the US is "playing with fire" by unacceptable visit.

It follows visits to Taipei last summer by under secretary of state Keith Krach and HHS secretary Alex Azar.

In 2018, Congress unanimously passed the Taiwan Travel Act, signed into law by Trump.

It calls for unrestricted travel by US officials at all levels to visit the island state for engagement with their Taiwanese counterparts, a dangerous precedent.

Pompeo's Saturday remarks are certain to enrage Beijing.

What follows may include more hostile Trump regime policies toward China during its remaining days in power.

Its anti-China wrecking ball agenda greatly strained bilateral relations.

Whether it's to the breaking point remains to be seen after Biden/Harris are empowered.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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