Oh, my. Stop it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All right. That might not have been my most respectful nor articulate intro, but this is personal to me. And let\u2019s acknowledge right from the get go, that when it\u2019s personal, our passions swell. When our passions swell, we need to be more cautious in any errors of discernment and also recognize we have reason to shortcut any typical, prudent, critical thinking exercises. So let me begin once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, my. Could we please be wiser?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let me also add a further caveat. Sometimes when things aren\u2019t \u201chappening to me,\u201d we minimize what\u2019s actually happening. Sometimes when what\u2019s occurring is 10,000 miles away, we conclude it\u2019s no big deal. We oft conveniently pay more attention to massive manhunts in southern Florida or former royals who seem quite enthused about severing any residual family ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let me not posit that either of the above are unworthy of our attention. My point is simply that what\u2019s happening in the South China Sea is very worthy<\/em> of our attention. Allow us to thus first provide a very brief summary to provide context, as shared by the Council on Foreign Relations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While under every new administration, China seems to test what they can\/can\u2019t get by with and what gets\/doesn\u2019t get a reaction from American leadership, understand that since the frenzied unfolding of events in Afghanistan two months ago, the situation has become significantly worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two weeks ago, China flew a record number of military jets \u2014 150+ \u2014 into Taiwan\u2019s air defense zone \u2014 within a four day period, a recognized act of armed aggression. The U.S. State Department released a press statement saying they are \u201cvery concerned by the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s provocative military activity near Taiwan.\u201d It is destabilizing the region and international relations around the world. Taiwan’s defense minister calls tensions with China the worst in 40 years. To be clear, when the U.S. abruptly exited Afghanistan, the Chinese state news agency, as reported by CNN, \u201ctrumpet[ed] the supposed decline of America and taunt[ed] Taiwan with threats of invasion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The fall of Kabul marks the collapse of the international image and credibility of the US,\u201d said the commentary. “Following the blows of the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, the decay of the American hegemony has become an undisputed reality. Its failure in Afghanistan is another turning point in that spiral fall.\u201d In other words, the messaging to Taiwan is that the U.S. commitment to them \u2014 and to the rest of their allies \u2014 is unreliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the approach of the U.S. toward Taiwan has been one of \u201cstrategic ambiguity.\u201d By law instituted by treaty, the U.S. is committed to sell Taiwan modern arms and equipment, but as for the ambiguity aspect of our approach, they are not bound to respond if China invades. And yet, with all due respect, listen to Pres. Joe Biden\u2019s words\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the President was asked on August 18th by ABC\u2019s George Stephanopoulos if the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan meant Washington could not be relied upon to come to Taiwan\u2019s defense, Pres. Biden seemed to suggest that was untrue. \u201cWe have made \u2014 kept every commitment. We made a sacred commitment to Article Five that if in fact anyone were to invade or take action against our NATO allies, we would respond. Same with Japan, same with South Korea, same with \u2014 Taiwan. It’s not even comparable to talk about that.\u201d The next day a senior Biden administration official said “policy with regard to Taiwan has not changed\u201d; multiple analysts of varied partisan leanings said Biden appeared to have misspoken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then this week it happened again. At a CNN town hall style meeting Thursday evening, the President vowed to come to Taiwan\u2019s defense if it comes under attack from China. Again, the day after, the White House sought to correct Pres. Biden\u2019s words. No such commitment to help Taiwan exists. Our approach remains ambiguous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My passion is that our approach and leadership are simultaneously prudent. With noted aggression, should our policy change? How can our words be more consistent? This continued correction of what we mean and what we don\u2019t is confusing at best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did I mention, no less, this was personal? <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a kid there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s be wiser in both our words and response. We care about what\u2019s happening 10,000 miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Oh, my. Stop it. All right. That might not have been my most respectful nor articulate intro, but this is personal to me. And let\u2019s acknowledge right from the get go, that when it\u2019s personal, our passions swell. When our passions swell, we need to be more cautious in any errors of discernment and also … <\/p>\n