October 2021 by Le Monde diplomatique

Author:Le Monde diplomatique
Language: fra
Format: epub
Publisher: Le Monde diplomatique
Published: 2021-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Free trade agreement?

Taiwan’s president further improved relations in August 2020 by removing the ban on imported pork raised on ractopamine, a feed additive intended to increase the leanness of meat, which is banned in the EU and elsewhere. This issue has plagued the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed in 1994 between the US and Taiwan, which has been suspended several times over meat disputes. The Taiwanese government hopes that the resumption of talks will lead to a broad free trade agreement, which will end Taiwan’s dependence on China, still its largest trading partner.

Publicly, President Tsai insists that, unlike Chen Shui-bian, her DPP predecessor in the presidency (2000-08), she does not support Taiwanese independence. But behind the scenes she continually pursues further guarantees and enhanced status for her country. ‘Strengthening Taiwan’s deterrence capacity is of tremendous importance for our continuing survival,’ says Hsiao Bi-khim (3).

The Taiwanese lobby in Washington has a much lower media profile than the Israeli lobby, but is no less effective, particularly in encouraging arms sales. ‘[Thinktanks] produce analyses that are clearly designed to influence US foreign policy ... but don’t directly mention that they’re funded by Taiwan’s representation in Washington,’ says Eli Clifton, a researcher at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, which promotes the demilitarisation of US foreign policy. The Project 2049 Institute is one of the organisations exerting influence behind the scenes. Funded by Taiwan and the US arms industry, it publishes numerous articles arguing that the US should support Taiwan’s participation in international organisations, enhance the status of the AIT, and encourage economic integration among Pacific allies.

Other studies raise the spectre of a Chinese invasion (4) or highlight Xi Jinping’s speech on the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in July. Calling for ‘China’s complete reunification’, he warned, ‘We must take resolute action to utterly defeat any attempt toward “Taiwan independence” ... No one should underestimate the resolve, the will, and the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity’ (5).

Even after the arrival of its new director Sandra Oudkirk, in July, the AIT did not respond to my questions about the US’s real/fake embassy. The Taiwanese defence ministry was equally tight-lipped. While ‘there are necessarily channels for the military to talk to the military,’ says Hugo Tierny, a doctoral student working on regional defence issues, ‘this part of the relationship is characterised by great discretion.’ To put it mildly.

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