By Xiong Xing
Recently, the US House of Representatives unanimously passed the so-called Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, which calls on the US government to support China's Taiwan region in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The move was immediately met with stern condemnation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. This so-called act not only seriously violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations but also constitutes severe interference in China's internal affairs, fully exposing the ill intentions of certain US politicians regarding the Taiwan question.
From its introduction to its passage, the so-called Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act has been nothing but a political farce that runs counter to the basic norms of international relations. The act requires the US government to support the Taiwan region of China in joining the IMF and gaining access to its mechanisms for economic surveillance, technical assistance and staff appointments. However, as a specialized agency of the UN, the IMF grants membership strictly on the basis of sovereign statehood, which is a fundamental principle long upheld by the international community. In 1971, Resolution 2758 adopted by the UN General Assembly has settled the issue of China's representation in the UN once and for all in political, legal and procedural terms by recognizing the representatives of the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. The Taiwan region is in no position whatsoever to join any international organization that requires sovereign statehood as a prerequisite for membership.
The fact that the US Congress has chosen this moment to push forward the so-called Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act is by no means accidental; rather, it reflects deeper strategic considerations and political calculation. Behind this move lie three underlying motives, namely to contain China, to serve partisan political interests within the US, and to deflect domestic problems elsewhere.
First and foremost, the most immediate motive behind this act is to persist in the attempt to "use Taiwan to contain China." As China's overall national strength and international influence continue to grow, the US increasingly regards China as its primary strategic competitor, with the Taiwan question serving as a key lever in its containment strategy. By supporting the Taiwan region's participation in international organizations, the US seeks to gradually raise Taiwan's "international visibility," and ultimately pursue the goal of splitting China.
Serving domestic political needs is another key factor driving this act. In 2025, the US has entered a new election cycle, with the two major parties engaged in fierce competition for political dominance. Playing tough on China by manipulating the Taiwan question has become a standard "performance piece" for both parties. The bipartisan appearance of the bill, jointly sponsored by Republican Representative Young Kim and Democratic Representative Al Green, does not conceal their true motive of exploiting the Taiwan question to gain political capital. Another factor that cannot be overlooked is the attempt to divert attention from deep-seated problems within the US itself. At present, American society is facing multiple challenges, including racial tensions and social division, with internal conflicts continuing to surface. Creating an external "enemy" to deflect public attention from domestic issues is a tactic long employed by US politicians. By hyping up the Taiwan question and exaggerating the so-called "China threat," American politicians are using it as an important tool to distract the public. By trying to force Taiwan region of China into the IMF, the US is in effect turning a multilateral platform meant to promote global economic cooperation into an arena for political confrontation. What is particularly dangerous about this approach is that it could trigger a chain reaction, encouraging separatist forces in other regions to follow Taiwan's example and seek "international participation," thereby undermining the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity on a global scale.
The historical trend that China will and must achieve reunification is unstoppable. Any attempt to undermine China's core interests is doomed to fail. The US needs to be fully aware of the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related matters. The US should work with China in the same direction to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. It serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is the shared aspiration of the international community.
(The author is a specially invited research fellow at the Center for Cross-Strait Relations Studies)
Editor's Note: Originally published on china.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
