By Nathan Novak
In a recent article in The Diplomat (‘How Taiwan Can Upstage China’), Richard Pearson makes a commendable case for why it would be wise for Taipei to abandon its ‘outdated and legally untenable claims’ in the South China Sea.
Pearson’s argument—that Taiwan should renounce the 1947 nine-dotted ‘U-shaped’ line—is almost perfectly well-reasoned. By holding on to such claims, Taiwan appears to be willing to ‘Odd(ly)’ upset other claimant states by siding with Beijing. By doing so, Taipei appears just as belligerent in principle as China, and so generates animosity among other possible partners in the region, particularly ASEAN claimants. Taiwan’s military will certainly not play any form of decisive role in a decision, argues Pearson. And, what is more, dropping such a claim and adhering to international law would win Taiwan international respect.
Read More at The Diplomat