Taiwan presents a real opportunity for the United States

We have long accepted that Taiwan is part of “One China.” A look at a world map and a moment’s reflection on the decadal economic growth of China show that our ambition to avoid the reintegration of Taiwan into China is a case of strategic overextension for us. We are out beyond our powers and our depth in the Western Pacific.

Taiwan’s relationship with us appears to be an asset, but it has become a liability because if push comes to shove, we could defend it only at exorbitant and unreasonable cost, especially in terms of long-term damage to our much more important relationship with China.

Our policy, therefore, has to be not truculence and deterrence but to make sure that push does not come to shove. That means easing off military aid to Taipei and scrupulously avoiding support for Vice President Lai Ching-te, the “independence” candidate in January’s presidential election in Taiwan.

China’s problems with its economy make this a time of reduced pressure. Now is an opportune moment when we can back away from Taiwan gradually and with a color of expansiveness and farsightedness, rather than under actual and embarrassing pressure from Beijing.

Peter Lydon, Berkeley, Calif.