Tension in US-China Relations

Tension is on the rise between the United States and China over the issue of the US supply of arms to Taiwan. Trade and censorship on the Internet have already become disputed issues. The US decision to supply arms to Taiwan may further deteriorate relations between the two countries.
The United States has argued that supply of arms to the tune of $8.5 billion to Taiwan would help in bringing stability in the region. The argument itself is an evidence of cunning US moves. One wonders that if stockpile of arms in a country can lead to stability and peace, why are the United States and its allies raising the bogey of Iran producing the nuclear bomb, although Iran has repeatedly and categorically made it clear that it has no intention to become a nuclear power. Any way, this is a different issue. What justification is there in the US claim that should Taiwan have a huge stockpile of arms, it would lead to peace and stability in the region?

China's Influence, Prestige in Region
As a matter of fact, the US action is aimed at reducing China's influence and prestige in the region. It appears that the United States feels that if Taiwan possesses a huge stockpile of arms, it would bring about a balance of power between Taiwan and China, though such thinking is nothing more than self-deception. Truly, supply of arms to a country has always led to an atmosphere of war and deterioration in the situation. This is simply what the United States wants.
The United States, today, is passing through a major economic crisis. The US multinational companies and banks continue to go bankrupt. The purchasing power of the US citizens continues to decline. Opportunities to earn money through new discoveries have also slipped out of US hands because countries like Japan, China, and India are leaving the United States behind in this field also. Under the circumstances, the United States, the self-proclaimed champion of peace, is left with no option but to earn money through sale of arms, as it continues to be the biggest merchant of arms even until today. Business and trading of arms by the United States continues unabated in the name of the war against terrorism or regional stability, and even in the name of self-defense.

Pressure on China
The very aim behind supply of arms to Taiwan is not to bring about stability or peace in the region, but the United States is striving to kill many birds with one stone, which is symbolic of its duplicity. One of the aims is to boost its arms trade and earn money. The other is to give a severe jolt to China. Both the United States and China do not see eye to eye on several issues, and their differences are common knowledge. It is worth a mention that China lays its claim on Taiwan, maintaining that Taiwan is part of China.
Although there is an autonomous government ever since 1947, China warns that if Taiwan even talked about complete independence, China would carry out military action against the same. Clearly, the inclination is not correct and the international community may exert its pressure on China diplomatically, but should the United States supply arms to Taiwan, the situation may deteriorate further.

Impact of US Decision
In light of the US decision to supply arms to Taiwan, China has announced to ban on US companies dealing in arms and ammunitions, immediate suspension of military exchanges with the United States, and of cooperation it extends to the United States in different sectors. If China indeed acts on its announcement, it would certainly have an adverse and negative impact on China-US relations. This would not be a one sided impact, as these measures may harm the United States, but it would affect the Chinese industry also, because the United States is a major market for the Chinese goods. If the issue escalates further, it would have an adverse impact on Chinese export as well. Equally true it is that opening up such a front against China does not go in US interest either.
China has categorically said that the US-Taiwan defense deal would certainly have an adverse impact on the continuing cooperation between China and the United States. However, the rising tension and skirmish between the countries on the issue of supply of arms does not augur well for Asia, and also the region.