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Foreign Policy Update

CHINA

As tensions rise in the South China Sea, the Navy is facing with a little-known challenge. The Navy is deploying additional ships to the western Pacific that can pack a powerful offensive punch. The fluid environment requires it to be prepared for both an offensive and defensive role should hostilities break out between China and Taiwan. The US Navy is installing powerful laser weapons system on nine of its destroyers. Eight installations use the nonlethal Optical Dazzling Interdictor (ODIN) system and one employs the High Energy Laser and generated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system, which has the potential to become an anti-missile defense system. Ships have a limited capacity to carry weapons and payload decisions need to be made between offensive and defensive systems. As the potential for conflict grows in the region more American ships may need to reconfigure the missile payload to increase the percentage of offensive weapons. How Beijing interprets the change may have an impact on it calculates the risk of invading Taiwan.

TAIWAN

As Beijing calculates the risk of a military move against Taiwan, the Biden Administration is faced with the task of determining how best to respond to aggressive Chinese moves toward  the island. A bad decision could result in either abandoning democratic Taiwan and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), or the US could risk involvement in an all-out war. Under the TRA Washington has pledged to help defend Taiwan. Referring to Beijing’s pattern of steadily increasing harassment of Taiwan, State Department spokesman Ned Price on Wednesday expressed “great concern” at Chinese efforts of intimidation. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters they are willing to defend themselves in a fight with China. 

US-TAIWAN RELATIONS

The State Department this week issued new guidelines for government interaction with Taiwan counterparts to encourage American engagement with Taiwan that reflects the deepening unofficial relationship. The guidance, according to the Department “underscores Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and an important security and economic partner that is also a force for good in the international community.”  These new guidelines liberalize guidance on contacts with Taiwan in a way that is consistent with US unofficial relations. It provides clarity throughout the Executive Branch on effective implementation of America’s “one China” policy.  

IRAN

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Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in Vienna said Tehran’s view on removal of the JCPOA sanctions, is that it would not be step-by-step but would Iran would require the US to “take its actions in one step, then we’ll verify, and then Iran will follow with its own actions.” Price said that is that “the primary issues to be discussed in Vienna are twofold: on the one hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take in order to effect its return to compliance with the JCPOA; and on the other hand, the sanctions relief steps that we would need to take in order to return to compliance as well.” 

IRELAND

Washington is deeply concerned by the violence in Northern Ireland in recent days and has joined the British, Irish, and Northern Irish leaders in a call for calm. State Spokesman Price said: “We welcome the provisions in both the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, which help to protect the gains of the Belfast and the Good Friday agreements.” He said that as the United Kingdom and the EU implement Brexit-related provisions, the Biden Administration is encouraging Northern Ireland to prioritize political and economic stability in the area. 

ETHIOPIA

Asked if the Biden administration growing frustrated with Ethiopia’s treatment of people in the Tigray region, State Department Spokesman Price said the US has had an occasion to “engage directly with the Ethiopian government.” He added that the messaging across all of those engagements has been consistent as the US is deeply concerned reports emanating from Tigray about the humanitarian plight of the Tigrayan people. Washington is monitoring the implementation humanitarian aid. Price added that “We have left no doubt with…the Ethiopian leadership that there needs to be follow through given the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Tigray.”

DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government.  Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.

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