Independent Taiwan

I despise such silliness:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated U.S. support of the "One China" policy on Monday, saying that the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We do not support Taiwan independence," Blinken said in a press conference on Monday. "We remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side. We continue to expect the peaceful resolution of cross strait differences. We remain committed to continuing our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act including making sure Taiwan has the ability to defend itself."

This has been US policy since I was in elementary school and it's stupid--about as stupid as the Cuban embargo. 

But back to my point.  Worse than the policy is total lack of diplomatic ability in Blinken's remarks.  There was no subtlety to them.  Would it not be better, if you're going to have a stupid policy that hopefully no one truly supports, to be a little more vague so as to keep the Chicoms guessing?  At least be coy, maybe wink at Taiwan and smirk while making such comments?  Something?

Here's my hard-nosed view:  the government in Taiwan is the legitimate government of China.  It was forced out of mainland China at gunpoint in 1949 and set up shop just off the coast, where it has operated nonstop ever since.  The government in Beijing is illegitimate.

Here's my realpolitik.  I have another international relations belief, that 25 years after something has happened, it's over.  Israel has held "Syrian" land since 1967, and the Syrians haven't taken it back; they've lost claim to it.  China annexed Tibet in 1951, and all the "Free Tibet" bumper stickers in the world haven't altered that reality.  Unless borders change in a few years, Crimea will be part of Russia and not Ukraine.  And the Chicoms have run mainland China since well before I was born, so whether we like it or not, we have to recognize the situation on the ground and deal with them as a government.  Of course, by my philosophy we'd also officially recognize Taiwan as independent and would seek to have it readmitted to the UN.

If I were Taiwanese, I wouldn't have a lot of faith in the US Secretary of State or the current White House occupant, not at all.  I certainly wouldn't trust them to abide by any defense pacts.  Scenes from Kabul 2021 would keep me awake at night.

Update, 6/27/23:  I'm not the only one: 

A large majority of Americans say the United States should recognize democratic Taiwan as independent from Communist China, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday.

Sixty-four percent of likely voters told Rasmussen that "the United States should officially recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, separate from China." Only 14 percent oppose U.S. recognition of Taiwan, while 22 percent are unsure.