By Daniel Nardini
Just a few days ago, I contacted an old friend I know still living in Taiwan. His name is Russ. He has lived in Taiwan for 35 years now. He is married to a Taiwanese, and has built a good life for himself. He has retired after a long career in teaching English as a foreign language, and his wife has inherited a tea farm so they have an even better source of income. I am happy for my friend, and in my view what is left of his life his life should be good. In any other context, my friend Russ would be fine and most likely would have lived a full life with his wife and her family.
What happened between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just last week has thrown any and all hopes of any U.S. help to Ukraine in doubt. The main problem I see, and I will say nothing more, is that Trump can change his mind on a dime and that what he says one day will be completely different the next. This is not to put it mildly good for any consistent U.S. foreign policy. How can any world leaders trust what the United States will do? This brings me to Taiwan. U.S. President Trump has “demanded” that Taiwan does more for its defense spending. What more Taiwan can do in terms of defense spending I do not know. It is already spending over 2.1 percent of its GDP on defense, and will bump it up to 3 percent. This is higher than many European countries.
But getting back to my friend. With the possibility of U.S. military aid being halted for whatever crazy reason for Taiwan as in the case of Ukraine, what does this mean for the people of Taiwan? What does it mean for my dearest friend Russ? His whole life is in Taiwan, and he has at this time nowhere else to go. I advised him to look into other options like maybe moving to the Republic of Singapore. The country has a Chinese population so maybe he and his wife could fit in. Plus, they have knowledge and skills that could greatly benefit Singapore. Russ told me that if he ever had to leave Taiwan he would return to the United States. But that option in my view may not happen. He has no income, no resources in this country. He has nothing set up to come back to the United States. On top of that, with the current way U.S. immigration is going he may not be able to get his wife or her family into America. And I know he cannot bear the thought of ever being separated from her or her family. I do not blame him.
In any other context, Russ can and should be able to enjoy his life in Taiwan forever. But because of the possibility that China could take Taiwan and there could be World War III, I can now only hope that Taiwan develops nuclear weapons to prevent a possible military takeover. If Taiwan can create a mutually assured destruction scenario, this may be the only real option for Taiwan’s 25 million people, and my good and dearest friend Russ and his family.
Advising a Friend Of a Plan B
By Daniel Nardini
What happened between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just last week has thrown any and all hopes of any U.S. help to Ukraine in doubt. The main problem I see, and I will say nothing more, is that Trump can change his mind on a dime and that what he says one day will be completely different the next. This is not to put it mildly good for any consistent U.S. foreign policy. How can any world leaders trust what the United States will do? This brings me to Taiwan. U.S. President Trump has “demanded” that Taiwan does more for its defense spending. What more Taiwan can do in terms of defense spending I do not know. It is already spending over 2.1 percent of its GDP on defense, and will bump it up to 3 percent. This is higher than many European countries.
But getting back to my friend. With the possibility of U.S. military aid being halted for whatever crazy reason for Taiwan as in the case of Ukraine, what does this mean for the people of Taiwan? What does it mean for my dearest friend Russ? His whole life is in Taiwan, and he has at this time nowhere else to go. I advised him to look into other options like maybe moving to the Republic of Singapore. The country has a Chinese population so maybe he and his wife could fit in. Plus, they have knowledge and skills that could greatly benefit Singapore. Russ told me that if he ever had to leave Taiwan he would return to the United States. But that option in my view may not happen. He has no income, no resources in this country. He has nothing set up to come back to the United States. On top of that, with the current way U.S. immigration is going he may not be able to get his wife or her family into America. And I know he cannot bear the thought of ever being separated from her or her family. I do not blame him.
In any other context, Russ can and should be able to enjoy his life in Taiwan forever. But because of the possibility that China could take Taiwan and there could be World War III, I can now only hope that Taiwan develops nuclear weapons to prevent a possible military takeover. If Taiwan can create a mutually assured destruction scenario, this may be the only real option for Taiwan’s 25 million people, and my good and dearest friend Russ and his family.