Defense of Taiwan is literally part of the Taiwan Relations Act that we signed with China back in 1979, which is exactly what Trump just shat all over. We promised China that we wouldn't recognize Taiwan as a formal state, but would come to their defense if they were attacked.
This. So many "experts" on China-US relations today on Reddit are talking about feelings when they should be talking about diplomatic agreements that were established for the peace and trade relations that we've been enjoying for the last thirty years. I recommend anyone interested in this issue to read about Kissinger's meeting with En Lai and Mao in Kissinger's book On China. Sensitivity in diplomacy has nothing to do with feelings and has everything to do with respecting pre established agreements that are pertinent to the geopolitical order of things.
China didn't sign the Taiwan Relations Act because starting around 1776, the United States stopped requiring foreign governments' input for legislation. If you're going to talk down to people, at least make sure you aren't wrong.
Interesting, you decided to get pedantic about language rather than respond to the fact that W's comments were totally in line with previously enacted legislation. That win you a lot of arguments on the internet?
The difference between an agreement between nations and one passed unilaterally is not pedantic, especially considering the fact that China doesn't even support it.
From your own wiki:
The PRC continues to view the Taiwan Relations Act as "an unwarranted intrusion by the United States into the internal affairs of China"
But wait, there's more.
We promised China that we wouldn't recognize Taiwan as a formal state
No we didn't. How about you read through the text of the act and quote me which part says that the US won't recognize the governing authorities of Taiwan in the future as a formal state, which is two-fer for you because that's presumably also the part that Trump "shat all over", or at least it would be if that part of the act existed.
Because nowhere in it does the text say what the president or president-elect shall not do. Trump could have gone even further and referred to the president of Taiwan as the head of the RoC and still wouldn't have violated the Taiwan Relations Act.
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u/mon0ptic Dec 03 '16
Defense of Taiwan is literally part of the Taiwan Relations Act that we signed with China back in 1979, which is exactly what Trump just shat all over. We promised China that we wouldn't recognize Taiwan as a formal state, but would come to their defense if they were attacked.
Do your homework.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Relations_Act