First G-2 summit went well for Taiwan

The two leaders, who met in London on the sidelines of the G-20 summit for the first time since Obama moved into the White House less than three months ago, had a wide-ranging discussion about various areas of bilateral cooperation.

There have been reports that the issue of Taiwan was briefly raised during the discussion. However, it appears that Hu and Obama merely repeated each other's most basic positions regarding Taiwan and moved on to other, more pressing subjects.

The ROC is rightfully attentive every time leaders from Washington and Beijing meet, since even an innuendo of policy shift towards cross-strait relations could create material effects on the island. But it appears that Obama is joining a long list of U.S. leaders who have conveniently sidestepped making any sensitive statements about Taiwan.

According to Beijing's official Xinhua News Agency, Obama told Hu at their first meeting that the U.S. government “is committed to the one-China policy and the three Chinese-U.S. joint communiques.”

The Xinhua report said Obama also added that this basic U.S. policy “will not change.”

At first glance, Obama's promise to abide by the three joint communiques might appear to be tilting toward Beijing. But in reality, Obama merely followed the same routine his predecessors have on the issue of Taiwan.

In the 1972 “Shanghai Communique,” Washington acknowledged that Taiwan and China are part of a single China, but stepped short of formally recognizing Beijing's claim of sovereignty over the island.

In the 1979 “Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations,” Washington recognized Beijing as the sole legal government of China. And in the 1982 communique signed during the leadership of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. made vague promises to gradually reduce the amount of defensive arms sold to Taiwan.

When past U.S. presidents reiterated adherence to a “one China” policy during meetings with mainland Chinese leaders, they also mentioned the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 in addition to the three communiques reached between Washington and Beijing.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. government is obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive armaments and maintain the capability to assist with the defense of Taiwan from military attack.

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