China Has “Ambitions” over Taiwan: Kurt Campbell

By Adriana Reinecke Washington, April 29(Jiji Press)–Speaking ahead of the upcoming U.S.-China summit, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that China has “ambitions” regarding the Taiwan issue. In an interview with Jiji Press on Monday, Campbell expressed concern that Chinese President Xi Jinping may directly urge U.S. President Donald Trump to declare open opposition to Taiwanese independence. During his scheduled visit to Beijing on May 14-15, Trump is expected to seek major business deals, including expanded Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products. There are concerns, however, that Xi may urge Trump to shift the longstanding U.S. position from “not supporting” Taiwanese independence, as maintained by previous administrations, to explicitly “opposing” it in return. Campbell pointed out that “the issue of Taiwan figures prominently” in Xi’s desire for Trump’s visit. He noted China’s lack of expressed concern about the visit amid the United States’ current military operations in the Middle East as “unusual,” warning that it “suggests that they have a plan.” The former deputy secretary added that the Chinese know “what they’d like to accomplish” in the upcoming meeting with Trump. During last year’s U.S.-China trade war, the Xi administration responded to the Trump administration’s tariff hikes by tightening export controls on rare earth elements, with both sides eventually moving toward easing tensions. Campbell indicated that breaking dependence on China for critical minerals “will take years,” noting that “China has a virtual stranglehold,” and predicted that Trump will likely seek assurances during the talks that China will not use rare earths and similar sectors as tools of economic coercion. Also in the interview, Campbell expressed his approval of the Japanese government’s revision of the implementation guidelines for its three principles on defense equipment transfer, which made it possible for the country to export lethal equipment such as fighter jets and destroyers. He praised the move as “overdue,” stating that “Japan, as a normal nation, should be able to have closer security partnerships with others in the region and elsewhere.” The former deputy secretary also expressed his support for Japan’s plans to establish bodies such as a national intelligence council to strengthen its intelligence capabilities, calling it a “natural progression” following initiatives like the creation of the National Security Council. Campbell added that the United States would be able to “fully support these innovations.” Regarding U.S. attacks on Iran, Campbell warned that the redeployment of U.S. forces from the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, to the Middle East “affects the quality of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific. He added, “Even though this is a regional conflict in and around the Persian Gulf against Iran, it has very much global implications, in a way, frankly, that neither Iraq or Afghanistan had,” expressing concern about fuel shortages, particularly in Southeast Asian countries. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]