Talking American, Acting Taiwanese Behind Taipei’s Complete Compliance of the Bush Doctrine

The Bush Doctrine is about U.S. unilateral, preemptive action to be taken against a potential enemy. For pro-independence forces in Taiwan, China represents this potential enemy. To support the Bush Doctrine means to deter China from using military means to stop Taiwan independence. However, the Bush Doctrine’s unilateralism and Taipei’s total reliance on the United States taken together destroy the credit that a mediator would need. Taipei always has its own reasons, from defiant Chiang Kai-shek’s reunification game in Quemoy, through Chiang Ching-kuo’s two-handed policy to curb pro-independence pressure, to Lee Teng-hui’s use of Washington to promote the cause of independence, and finally to Chen Shui-bian’s total reliance on the United States in order to preserve Washington’s sympathy in Taiwan’s pursuit of independence. Taipei has always tried to sneak its own reasons into its unqualified support for Washington, and Washington has been caught either by surprise or by ignorance each time. The support the Bush Doctrine enjoys in Taipei is no exception.