U.S. dislike for ECFA is a myth

To be sure, some Americans do appear uncomfortable about the rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait. For example, a small group of U.S.-based academics recently submitted a petition opposing the signing of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taipei and Beijing.

In a similar vein, two American lawmakers (out of a total of 535) also expressed opposition to the trade pact. One argued that it was a “Trojan horse” that will enable Beijing to absorb Taiwan, while the other blasted it as a “cage” for Taiwan. And some newspapers in Taipei have penned stories about “unnamed sources” in the Pentagon who are allegedly worried about present trends. They warn that the U.S. may reduce its military support for Taiwan.

Despite such opinions, it is clear that the U.S. has long supported increased cross-strait dialogue, cross-strait exchanges and a peaceful resolution of the differences between Beijing and Taipei. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that Washington warmly supports all moves toward cooperation and reconciliation.

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs, described changes in cross-strait relations as one of the few “signs of hope” in global politics. Jeffrey Bader, senior director for East Asian Affairs in the U.S. National Security Council, has characterized the improvement in ties as one of the world's “good news stories” and said that “we think Chinese Presidents Hu Jintao and Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou have done an excellent job in reaching out to each other and building a framework that we hope will be durable and that will lead to the resolution of differences.” Moreover, Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Washington office, has dismissed claims that Taiwan serves as some sort of an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” for the U.S. military and described such arguments as obsolete and anachronistic.

And when asked if he was “supportive of improved cross-strait relations” in November 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama proclaimed that “I am very pleased with the reduction of tensions and the improvement in cross-straits relations, and it is my deep desire and hope that we will continue to see great improvement between Taiwan and the rest of — and the People's Republic in resolving many of these issues.”

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