Before Trump-Xi Meeting, US Retired General Writes: Taiwan is a Model Ally, Not a Bargaining Chip
Ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery published an article arguing that Taiwan is a "model ally" and not a bargaining chip. He warned that exchanging Taiwan's security for empty promises from China would be an unprecedented strategic blunder.
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Central News Agency
(Washington, Central News Agency, May 13, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery wrote that Taiwan is a "model ally" and not a bargaining chip. He stated that exchanging Taiwan's security for empty promises from Beijing would be an unprecedented strategic blunder.
Montgomery published an article titled "Taiwan is a 'model ally,' not trade bait" on the website of the Washington think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies" (FDD).
He pointed out that Taiwan possesses all the qualities Trump considers ideal for an ally. Taiwan has invested unprecedented funds to strengthen its self-defense, including billions of dollars in purchasing U.S.-made weapons. It is also a major hub for manufacturing the world's most advanced semiconductor chips, which support American commercial products and cutting-edge weapon systems, including the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
He mentioned that as Trump heads to Beijing this week to meet with Xi Jinping, the question is whether the U.S. president will recognize Taiwan as a "model ally" (a term the Trump administration has used for countries like Israel and South Korea) and reject Beijing's trade promises in exchange for Taiwan's security, trading it for Xi Jinping's empty commitments, such as increasing imports of U.S. goods or allowing U.S. companies to buy critical minerals from China, which almost monopolizes the supply.
Montgomery wrote that Taiwan demonstrates the successful outcomes that a U.S. partnership can bring. Taiwan, with its 23 million people, is a free democratic society, holding free and fair elections, peaceful transfers of power, judicial independence, and freedom of the press. It also boasts a vibrant civil society, continually choosing self-governance rather than being incorporated into China's system.
He noted that, in contrast, China's rule over Hong Kong has shown what unification might look like, a stark contrast. As free nations worldwide compete with authoritarian regimes, Taiwan represents the world order that the U.S. hopes to establish and maintain.
Montgomery further stated that, economically, Taiwan's contribution to U.S. prosperity is crucial, and losing Taiwan would impact various sectors of the U.S. economy. TSMC and UMC combined account for nearly three-quarters of the global wafer foundry market, with TSMC alone producing about 90% of the world's most advanced logic chips.
He also pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party is eager to subdue Taiwan because Taiwan's very existence symbolizes that the Chinese people can simultaneously enjoy freedom and prosperity. The People's Liberation Army daily exerts pressure and provocation on Taiwan's military and coast guard, but Taiwan maintains a professional response, not requesting U.S. military intervention in every conflict.
Chinese diplomatic officials have clearly stated before the Trump-Xi meeting that they hope Trump will make concessions on the Taiwan issue, emphasizing that the Taiwan issue belongs to China's "core interests" and that the U.S. adherence to the One-China policy is a prerequisite for stable relations. Xi Jinping might use trade agreements and rare earth cooperation as incentives to exchange for U.S. restrictions on arms sales or a stance against Taiwan's independence.
Montgomery said that Trump should recognize that Taiwan offers superior deal conditions. Taiwan has fulfilled U.S. expectations for allies: exchanging Taiwan's security for Beijing's empty promises would be an unprecedented strategic blunder, and all U.S. allies watching this summit, from Tokyo, Seoul, to Warsaw and Tallinn, will remember this for generations to come. (Translator: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150514
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(Washington, Central News Agency, May 13, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery wrote that Taiwan is a "model ally" and not a bargaining chip. He stated that exchanging Taiwan's security for empty promises from Beijing would be an unprecedented strategic blunder.
Montgomery published an article titled "Taiwan is a 'model ally,' not trade bait" on the website of the Washington think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies" (FDD).
He pointed out that Taiwan possesses all the qualities Trump considers ideal for an ally. Taiwan has invested unprecedented funds to strengthen its self-defense, including billions of dollars in purchasing U.S.-made weapons. It is also a major hub for manufacturing the world's most advanced semiconductor chips, which support American commercial products and cutting-edge weapon systems, including the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
He mentioned that as Trump heads to Beijing this week to meet with Xi Jinping, the question is whether the U.S. president will recognize Taiwan as a "model ally" (a term the Trump administration has used for countries like Israel and South Korea) and reject Beijing's trade promises in exchange for Taiwan's security, trading it for Xi Jinping's empty commitments, such as increasing imports of U.S. goods or allowing U.S. companies to buy critical minerals from China, which almost monopolizes the supply.
Montgomery wrote that Taiwan demonstrates the successful outcomes that a U.S. partnership can bring. Taiwan, with its 23 million people, is a free democratic society, holding free and fair elections, peaceful transfers of power, judicial independence, and freedom of the press. It also boasts a vibrant civil society, continually choosing self-governance rather than being incorporated into China's system.
He noted that, in contrast, China's rule over Hong Kong has shown what unification might look like, a stark contrast. As free nations worldwide compete with authoritarian regimes, Taiwan represents the world order that the U.S. hopes to establish and maintain.
Montgomery further stated that, economically, Taiwan's contribution to U.S. prosperity is crucial, and losing Taiwan would impact various sectors of the U.S. economy. TSMC and UMC combined account for nearly three-quarters of the global wafer foundry market, with TSMC alone producing about 90% of the world's most advanced logic chips.
He also pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party is eager to subdue Taiwan because Taiwan's very existence symbolizes that the Chinese people can simultaneously enjoy freedom and prosperity. The People's Liberation Army daily exerts pressure and provocation on Taiwan's military and coast guard, but Taiwan maintains a professional response, not requesting U.S. military intervention in every conflict.
Chinese diplomatic officials have clearly stated before the Trump-Xi meeting that they hope Trump will make concessions on the Taiwan issue, emphasizing that the Taiwan issue belongs to China's "core interests" and that the U.S. adherence to the One-China policy is a prerequisite for stable relations. Xi Jinping might use trade agreements and rare earth cooperation as incentives to exchange for U.S. restrictions on arms sales or a stance against Taiwan's independence.
Montgomery said that Trump should recognize that Taiwan offers superior deal conditions. Taiwan has fulfilled U.S. expectations for allies: exchanging Taiwan's security for Beijing's empty promises would be an unprecedented strategic blunder, and all U.S. allies watching this summit, from Tokyo, Seoul, to Warsaw and Tallinn, will remember this for generations to come. (Translator: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150514
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
No text, images, or videos from this website may be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.