(RightWing.org) – The situation between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan is volatile, to say the least. The island maintains that it is a sovereign nation, while Beijing vehemently disagrees and says there is only one China. The United States’ position on the matter is that it acknowledges Beijing’s stance but is also committed to helping Taiwan defend itself. That position has been made clear with the sending of US troops to help bolster the island’s military training.
However, while President Joe Biden has muddied the waters time and again with his statements, Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently stated with no hesitation that the US does “not support Taiwan independence” and “remain[s] opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.”
Yet, according to a recent poll, the majority of Americans disagree with this stance.
Rasmussen Poll Results
Following Blinken’s statements, Rasmussen Reports carried out a survey from June 20-22 of 1,046 likely US voters. They were asked a series of questions, one of which was, “Should the United States officially recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, separate from China?”
Sixty-four percent (64%) of those surveyed said yes, while only 14% were in opposition. Another 22% were undecided on the matter. This has largely been the stance for a few years now.
Chicago Council Survey data from 2021 shows that 69% favored the island’s independence, while 53% believed the US should commit to a formal alliance. Nearly half (46%) wanted the US to commit to defending Taiwan in the event that China invaded, with Republicans (60%) offering more support than Democrats (50%).
Washington’s Stance
In recent times, US lawmakers have either met with or committed to meeting with Taiwanese officials, even in the face of threats from Beijing. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited in August 2022, and current Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) met with President Tsai Ing-wen in California this past April.
Additionally, Biden has said on more than one occasion that the US would defend Taiwan should China attack. This is in direct opposition to the US “strategic ambiguity” policy. Many believe this would eventually lead to a Chinese invasion of the island, one that the US would be hard-pressed to stop if the Pentagon war games are of any indication of how a battle would go.
In many simulations, the US proved to be painfully unprepared for such a battle as China has focused on building up its military presence, particularly its navy. The war, according to POLITICO, would be a “horrifically bloody one.”
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