China often breaks its promisesBy Hou Liang-xuan 侯量軒When political leaders speak of “peace” across the Taiwan Strait, the word carries an intuitive appeal. Yet when peace is predicated on political commitments, a question arises: How credible are those commitments? Over the past several decades, China has repeatedly used agreements and assurances as instruments to facilitate the incorporation of politically distinct regions. In this sense, they are less “institutional commitments” than “strategic commitments.”Understanding this dynamic requires attention to the logic of China’s political system. In the absence of an independent judiciary or external arbitration mechanisms, political agreements lack enforceable guarantees.

Source: Taipei Times April 11, 2026 20:20 UTC