US and Australian Ministers Say Taiwan Is Key in Indo-Pacific... Core of US-China Conflict

Pompeo, "Korea International Cooperation Award"
Wang Yi, "Caution Against US Actions Leading to Cold War"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Cho Young-shin] The US and Australian governments have once again emphasized the importance of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region, suggesting that the US-China conflict over the South China Sea is likely to intensify further. Taiwan, possessing greater destructive power than Hong Kong, is highly likely to become the core of future US-China conflicts.

On the 28th (local time), the US State Department issued a statement following the '2+2 Meeting (AUSMIN)' attended by Marise Payne, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Linda Reynolds, Australian Minister for Defence, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, and Mark Esper, US Secretary of Defense, emphasizing that "the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the alliance" and highlighting security issues in the region.

This meeting focused on discussing countermeasures against China's movements within the Indo-Pacific region. It was intended to showcase the cooperation between the two countries against China and to express a firm resolve not to tolerate China's unilateral actions in the area.

First, the ministers from both countries expressed serious concerns about China's coercive and destabilizing unilateral actions in the Indo-Pacific region. They also reaffirmed their position that China's territorial claims in the South China Sea are not valid under international law, emphasizing that they will not condone such claims.

They further strongly criticized China, noting that neighboring countries are being harassed by China not only in fisheries but also in resource development sectors such as oil and gas in the South China Sea.

Considering that the South China Sea is a major gateway to the Indo-Pacific and that Taiwan lies at the center of this gateway, they stated their intention to take a more proactive stance on the Taiwan issue going forward.

To this end, the ministers declared their commitment to maintaining close relations with Taiwan, including more actively supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations. They also added that they would strive to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan in terms of development assistance to Pacific island countries.

While the Chinese leadership has set an internal goal to include Taiwan within the scope of "One Country, Two Systems" within ten years, the Taiwanese leadership is preparing for independence. The Taiwan issue is thus a powder keg narrowly for the South China Sea and broadly for the Indo-Pacific region.

The ministers also raised the level of criticism against China by mentioning controversial issues such as the Hong Kong National Security Law, human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

At a press conference following the meeting, Secretary Pompeo included South Korea as a partner in international cooperation on China-related issues. He stated that the US would cooperate not only with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance composed of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand but also with allies such as South Korea, Japan, India, and ASEAN countries.

Secretary Pompeo said, "The challenge of our time is for friends of liberal democracy to cherish freedom and achieve economic prosperity based on the rule of law together."

Meanwhile, on the 28th, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, stated, "Some political forces in the US are completely denying the history of China-US relations due to election and hegemony maintenance needs," and defined "attacking the social system chosen by the Chinese people as 'hegemonism'."

He also warned, "We are wary of the US side's words and actions aimed at dragging us into a new Cold War," adding, "If conspiracy theories become reality, not only China-US relations but also the world will face a crisis of division, endangering the future of humanity."