China’s social media has been abuzz in recent days about how Trump’s threat to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal, even by force, could affect U.S. Taiwan policy.
U.S. governments have for years called for “restraint” in China’s insistence over Taiwan as part of its territory and an end to Beijing’s constant military threats to annex the democratically governed island.
But many Chinese commentators believe that US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to seize Greenland and Panama Canals, even if by force if necessary, has undermined the impact of the long-standing US message around Taiwan.
In recent days, there has been a fierce discussion among Chinese social media platforms and foreign policy analysts about how Trump’s comments could affect US Taiwan policy.
Many say that while the confrontation between Washington and Beijing around Taiwan is unlikely to change in the near future, Trump’s preference to break American diplomatic norms could also create opportunities for China.
According to a Chinese expert, there were indications that Trump sees foreign policy from a place of debt and debt in his first term. If that happens, he may be interested in a new deal on Taiwan.
Joe Minghau, a professor at the Institute for International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada should be taken seriously.
“At the same time, Trump’s transactionalism, which he is also serious about, needs to be considered. “Many in China still see Trump as a deal-maker, even on difficult issues like Taiwan.”
China’s foreign ministry said the attempt to compare Greenland with Taiwan was “ridiculous”.
“The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair and the Chinese people will see how to resolve it,” it said in a statement to Reuters.
‘If Trump takes Greenland, China should use this opportunity to take Taiwan. Trump seems serious about his words, we need to focus on what we can take advantage of this,” said the commenter who wrote under the name “Hongtu Sumeng.”
Writing in the Chinese news portal NetEasy, Shen Fei, an associate professor at Central China Normal University’s School of Politics and International Studies, said that just as Greenland is for Trump, Taiwan is a very important part of China’s security interests.
But the two issues are not entirely the same, because what Trump is doing is a direct threat to the sovereignty of another country, according to Feier.
“Taiwan is China’s inland territory and is entirely China’s internal affair. It has nothing to do with the sovereignty of other countries,” he said.