Taipei: The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced that the United States' policy regarding Taiwan remains unchanged, following Chinese criticism of recent statements by AIT Director Raymond Greene concerning Taiwan's drone advancements.
According to Focus Taiwan, Greene spoke at a drone industry forum in Taichung on July 2, describing drones as a "game-changing opportunity" to bolster Taiwan's security and promote peace across the Indo-Pacific region. Greene, who acts as the de facto U.S. ambassador, emphasized that transforming Taiwan into a hub of air, surface, and subsurface drones could deter conflicts, and expressed the U.S.'s readiness to collaborate with Taipei on this initiative.
In response, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), criticized Greene for his comments, accusing him of spreading fallacies such as "dialogue without preconditions," pressuring Taiwan for a special defense budget, and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Chen also referenced U.S. President Donald Trump's stance against Taiwan's independence and cautious approach to arms sales, suggesting Greene's remarks contradicted Trump's position and could jeopardize U.S.-China relations.
Addressing inquiries from CNA, an AIT spokesperson reaffirmed the U.S.'s unwavering commitment to Taiwan, noting that its policy is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China joint communiqu©s, and the Six Assurances. The spokesperson also cited U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's June 2 statement that the U.S. aims to preserve the status quo, underscoring the consistency of Washington's Taiwan policy.
Wang Hung-jen, a political science professor at National Cheng Kung University, informed CNA that Greene's comments are considered "sensitive" by Beijing as they may signal U.S. support for Taiwan's military development. However, Wang argued that Beijing's reaction was excessive, noting that Greene's participation in the forum was a standard aspect of U.S.-Taiwan interactions. Wang suggested that Beijing's intense response indicates its concern over the maturity of Taiwan's drone industry and the potential for deeper U.S.-Taiwan collaboration in the field.
Hung Yao-nan, deputy director of Tamkang University's Institute of China Studies, explained to CNA that Beijing opposes Taiwan's defense development efforts, rendering any AIT statements on the subject particularly delicate. Hung emphasized that Beijing's criticism, though directed at the U.S., primarily serves as a warning to Taiwan. He added that regardless of AIT remarks, enhancing self-defense capabilities is essential and a strategically sound direction for Taiwan.