This may sound like a false equivalency, but it is a common tactic used by China’s army of armchair warriors, who use social media to denounce every visit to Taiwan by US government representatives, particularly those in Congress. These social media users believe that such visits are an unacceptable provocation and meddling in China’s internal affairs since Beijing views Taiwan, which is governed by itself, as a province that would one day secede and come under its jurisdiction.
Of course, perceptions in Taipei, which regards itself as separate from the Chinese mainland with its own constitution and democratically elected leaders, and Washington view these visits—such as the one being made this week by Representative Mike Gallagher, the head of the US House’s China committee—very differently.
However, it begs the question, what is their aim? Are these sincere gestures of solidarity meant to fend off China, or are they PR gimmicks designed to provoke Beijing and reinforce the idea that Washington wants Taiwan permanently split of.
