context: Marking the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the PLA sent 24 aircraft and five ships into space claimed by Taiwan. This action, according to Taipei, reinforces its resolution to defend itself while Beijing accused Taipei of misleading the public to provoke confrontation.
The Taiwan Relations Act, passed in 1979, notes the Global Times, provides a ‘legal basis’ for US intervention in the Taiwan Strait, including arms sales, thereby stimulating independence forces.
When the Act was passed, the likelihood of enforcement was high, given the overwhelming military and economic superiority of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. As China’s military presence and strategic deterrence increased in the Taiwan Strait, claims the Global Times, the Act lost its power as an instrument of intervention.
Passed in 2005, the Anti-Secession Law gained credibility from China’s rise in military power and ‘comprehensive national strength’, according to the Global Times. In the past, protecting the ‘One China’ principle largely depended on China-US cooperation whereas China today has increasing power to independently ensure observation of the principle.
Compared to non-peaceful means of curbing Taiwan independence forces cited in the Anti-Secession Law, the Taiwan Straits Act, providing ambiguous promises to Taiwan, generates much less deterrence force. Thus, predicts the Global Times, if the Act is used by the US to confront Beijing’s Law, it will definitely be doomed.