Washington urged to honor one-China principle for stable ties

When the presidents of China and the United States met in May, they agreed to explore building a constructive and strategically stable relationship between the two countries. The Taiwan question, the most sensitive topic in China-US relations, was discussed in depth. The US made several commitments, including US President Donald Trump's remark that "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent", as well as signals that Washington would exercise restraint on arms sales to Taiwan and would not back the calls for "Taiwan independence".

Yet, months later, the reality is mixed. While Washington has shown some signs of restraint, it has simultaneously created new risks in the Taiwan Strait.

Stability in the Taiwan Strait is essential for maintaining steady China-US relations. Whether the US honors its commitments to China will directly affect the prospects for a stable relationship between the two countries.

Since the presidential meeting, Washington seems to understand the risks of conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Following the meeting, the US temporarily paused major arms sales to Taiwan, stressed the importance of peace across the Strait, and resumed diplomatic communication with China at multiple levels.

Washington also publicly reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle, showing no fundamental shift in its Taiwan policy.

This period of relative restraint enabled the resumption of dialogue in areas such as trade, temporarily easing tensions across the Strait. Strategically, Washington recognizes that a conflict over Taiwan would incur enormous costs the US could ill afford. This reflects a calculation based on US interests, and aligns with the understandings reached by the two presidents.

Yet, high-level verbal commitments do not always translate into action on the ground. Provocative moves reveal a persistent problem in US policy: a divergence between Washington's words and its actions.

Raymond Greene, director of the "American Institute in Taiwan", often oversteps his role and intervenes in the island's political affairs.

In the current political environment, this distorts the status quo across the Strait and promotes the so-called "dialogue without preconditions", which emboldens separatist activities.

At the same time, the US continues to deepen military ties with Taiwan authorities, promoting defense concepts, pressing for increased defense spending, and accelerating efforts to build up "asymmetric capabilities".

It is also deeply involved in tactical defense planning, encouraging preparations for urban combat. Such moves embolden separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence".

The US policy is marked by contradictions. While senior White House officials pledge to manage risks, anti-China lawmakers in the US push Taiwan-related legislation and military exchanges continue between the US and Taiwan authorities.

This double-faced approach seriously undermines the understandings reached by President Xi Jinping and President Trump, eroding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

This contradiction stems from the US desire to contain the Chinese mainland, using Taiwan as leverage. Washington seeks to constrain China's development without being dragged into war by "Taiwan independence" forces.

This opportunism has made US policy unstable. Washington seems to believe that it can test China's limits while arming Taiwan and slow down China's reunification process without triggering a conflict.

But this dangerous ambiguity risks uncontrollable escalation. Separatist forces will not be satisfied with limited US "support" and will push Washington toward direct confrontation.

Those who play with fire risk getting burned. Provocations will only shrink the space for peace across the Strait and could lead to a dangerous strategic collision.

The Taiwan question is pivotal for a stable China-US relationship. Such a relationship should be defined by cooperation, healthy competition, manageable differences, and the promise of peace. Yet, Taiwan is a destabilizing factor in this path.

China and the US have differences over trade, technology, global governance and many other issues, but these allow room for negotiation. The Taiwan question is different and concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, leaving no room for compromise.

The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US diplomatic relations. If Washington continues to play the "Taiwan card", all the high-level understandings and plans for cooperation will rest on shaky ground.

A conflict could wipe out years of progress in China-US dialogue, dismantling the framework for a stable relationship and severely disrupting peace and stability across the Asia-Pacific.

Handling the Taiwan question is therefore a critical test for avoiding the trap of major-power confrontation. For a constructive and strategically stable relationship, Washington must abandon opportunism, honor its commitments and translate the understandings reached by the two presidents into concrete action. The following measures can take the relationship in that direction.

First, Washington should ensure consistency in its Taiwan policy, restrain provocative behavior by officials and stop further escalation of military ties between the US and the Taiwan authorities. Its words and actions on Taiwan should be consistent.

Second, the US should uphold its one-China principle, halt official exchanges and military ties with Taiwan, stop pushing Taiwan to expand its military capabilities, and abandon the idea of using the Taiwan question to contain the Chinese mainland.

Third, Washington should recognize the incompatibility of "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait. It should stop encouraging separatist activities on the island.

The historical trend toward reunification across the Taiwan Strait cannot be stopped. China's central government consistently pursues peaceful reunification, but it has not renounced the use of force against separatism and interference by external forces.

Only by properly managing the Taiwan question and upholding the one-China principle can China and the US remove the biggest obstacle in their relationship and create broader space for a constructive and strategically stable relationship.

By preserving stability in the Taiwan Strait and abandoning the "Taiwan card", Washington can stabilize China-US relations and contribute to global peace.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.