Research On The U.S.Arms Sales To Taiwan During The Obama Administration

The U.S.arms sales to Taiwan question has been receiving great attention from the Chinese government since the beginning of Sino-US diplomatic relations negotiations This is a major issue that has long plagued the normal exchanges between China and the United States,disrupted peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits,and hindered the process of peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Straits.After the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in 1979,the United States Congress passed the "Taiwan Relations Act",which provided for the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan in the form of domestic legislation.Although the Chinese and U.S governments issued the August 17 Communique in 1982,stipulating that the United States must not improve the performance of arms sales to Taiwan and gradually reduce the amount of arms sales to Taiwan,this communique did not produce effective restrictions in the later period.The US arms sales to Taiwan still remained at a high level.During the Obama administration,although Sino-U.S.Relations generally showed a positive trend After Ma Ying-jeou was elected leader of the Taiwan region,the exchanges between the two sides of the strait were closer,but the scale of U.S.arms sales to Taiwan has increased significantly.During Obama's administration,various factors contributed to the passage and implementation of the arms sales bill to Taiwan.Politically,arms sales to Taiwan are an important part of the U.S.Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy;The intricate political and capital forces in the United States(such as the pro-Taiwan forces in Congress,military enterprises,etc.)have become the driving force behind the arms sales to Taiwan for the benefit of many parties.On the economic front,due to the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008,in order to solve the domestic employment problem and debt crisis,raise the public opinion support rate to save the reelection vote problem,prompt the Obama administration to actively promote arms sales to Taiwan during this period.After the Obama administration promoted arms sales to Taiwan,the Chinese government adopted severe countermeasures such as suspending some military exchanges between the two countries and sanctioning U.S.companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan.But there are still some shortcomings,and the countermeasures produced are not obvious.More targeted and effective measures should be taken.Under the background of the establishment of a new type of China-US relations,China and the United States should strengthen cooperation,deepen understanding and mutual trust,work hard to ease contradictions and conflicts,and resolve differences.Both sides of the Taiwan Straits should also strengthen exchanges and cooperation,and strive to achieve a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question.This article reviews the situation of past U.S.government arms sales to Taiwan after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States,describes the status and characteristics of U.S.arms sales to Taiwan during the Obama administration,and describes the impact of U.S.arms sales to Taiwan during this period on Sino-US relations and cross-strait relations.Then,it analyzes the foreign strategy,domestic politics and economic factors that promoted US arms sales to Taiwan during the Obama administration.Finally,according to China's countermeasures against the U.S.arms sales to Taiwan during the Obama era,analyzing the shortcomings to provide a reference for China to improve the countermeasures against arms sales to Taiwan during Trump administration.