Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Taiwan is a “vital” partner of the US and Washington is committed to supporting the nation’s “confidence and freedom from coercion,” a senior US Department of State official said on Thursday, adding that Washington welcomes Democratic Progressive party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) visit next month.

In a speech that seemed geared toward boosting the relationship prior to Taiwan’s next presidential election, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton heaped praise on Taiwan as a “society worthy of emulation and envy.”

As Taiwan enters the last year of Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) presidency, the nation has much to examine and reflect on. A basic question is how effective Ma’s reign has been. In this matter, an issue that deserves special attention is Ma’s claim that his policy of non-confrontation — or what some might call appeasement and kowtowing to China — has brought peace to the Taiwan Strait. However, has it?