I write: “Trump should reject Xi’s request to support ‘peaceful reunification.’ Washington should not back only one particular outcome, and the term ‘reunification’ would implicitly endorse Beijing’s legal and historical claim on Taiwan. Adopting China’s position in this way would be a blunder.”

Curious for a journalist to mischaracterize my piece, which explicitly calls on the Trump admin to *reject* Beijing's requests for the United States to "support peaceful reunification" or "oppose Taiwan independence." There isn't a single Beijing "diktat" that I propose accepting.

I write: “Trump should reject Xi’s request to support ‘peaceful reunification.’ Washington should not back only one particular outcome, and the term ‘reunification’ would implicitly endorse Beijing’s legal and historical claim on Taiwan. Adopting China’s position in this way would be a blunder...”

(2/2) . . . given the strategic importance it evidently now assigns to Taiwan, and US political support for Taiwan's democracy. And as long as that is the case, Beijing will not retreat from threatening the use of force.

(1/2) This is a great summary of the current situation, partly because it accepts that all three parties have played a role in fueling tensions. But here's the key sticking point: Washington may no longer be willing to accept the possibility of peaceful unification . . .

Forget putting America first. Trump treats the interests of a Persian Gulf emirate as equivalent to those of the United States:

"The United States shall regard any armed attack on the . . . State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States."

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Watch the full event here, with thanks to @weatherheadcenter.bsky.social: youtu.be/nzZydcgbXc8?...