The top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, has urged China to abandon its threats and military pressure against the island, stating that dialogue with Taiwan's leaders would help stabilize relations and ease cross-strait tensions.
Greene, who heads the American Institute in Taiwan, emphasized that consistent U.S. policy supports exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and expects Beijing to maintain open communication channels with all of Taiwan's political parties. China views Taiwan as its territory and has not renounced the use of force, while Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
Beijing refuses to speak with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a "separatist." However, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with Cheng Li-wun, the chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, on a visit described as a "mission of peace."
Greene also stressed that while the U.S. supports dialogue, it cannot replace deterrence. He stated that sufficient deterrence capability can lead to more equal dialogue and remove the option of war, thereby resolving cross-strait differences.