The provocative visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to
Taiwan represents a significant display of diplomatic support for Taiwan
despite Chinese threats and the serious repercussions of such escalation.
اضافة اعلان
The current US administration clearly underlined
that containing China is its top priority; that was best highlighted during the
appointment process of the CIA director, William Burns. During the Senate
hearings, Burns was quite aggressive about both China and Russia, noting that
the Chinese leadership poses the biggest geopolitical test to the US. He added
that the focus on China and four relevant, interrelated and crucial priorities
will shape his approach as the head of the CIA: China, technology, people, and
partnerships. He went as far as stating that if he were ever to run an American
university that had a Confucius Institute on its campus, he would shut down the
institute.
The choice of Pelosi to conduct a visit to Taiwan
can be seen as part of this wider anti-China strategy, irrespective of the
possible diplomatic tensions that might arise between the US and China.
However, the visit cannot be seen in isolation from the crucial factors that
are determining US foreign policy in the short term, such as US mid-term
elections and the consequences of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
The visit to Taiwan, then, and the surrounding
diplomatic escalation with China, is to deliver clear positive signs to the US
Indo-Pacific allies who fear the American superficial concern for their region
and relevant issues due to the US need to focus more on Europe, especially
Eastern Europe, to counter the repercussions of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
The US-China confrontation might not be a short-term issue. It will take different shapes and approaches, and happen in different places. But it will definitely have a global impact.
It is obvious that US President Joe Biden’s
administration is trying to form a stronger and more determined image regarding
its foreign policy, especially concerning the Indo-Pacific issue. It is also
clear that such a visit is part of a series of US initiatives that aim at
keeping the pressure high on Beijing, especially since the US position in
dealing with the Ukrainian crisis was not perceived as strong enough by its
partners.
Furthermore, the US might fear that once the
Ukrainian war is over, China may have already started its financial and
commercial protection system to avoid any potential application of sanctions,
similar to the Russian model.
The US-China confrontation might not be a short-term
issue. It will take different shapes and approaches, and happen in different
places. But it will definitely have a global impact. Unfortunately, such a
confrontation is occurring at a time many countries have fragile economies and
are suffering the hardships of the post-COVID-19 era. Therefore, such political
instability will add more pressure on many countries and on the global economy
at large.
The concept of ideological war has become invalid.
The US efforts to counter China have one main objective, that is the economy,
without any concern that any attempt that might endanger the economies of both
US and China will have further and wider economic ramifications targeting all.
Pelosi’s controversial visit should remind many
decision makers that compromise is much more favorable than the ongoing
escalation and its continuation, which will have global dangerous economic
repercussions that will spare no country whatsoever.
Amer Al-Sabaileh is a Jordanian
university professor and geopolitical expert. He is a leading columnist in
national, regional, and international media, offers consultancies to think
tanks and speaks at international conferences on Middle East politics and
developments.
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