An author has declined to review Eyck Freymann's new book 'Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China,' proposing instead a straightforward solution: acknowledge Taiwan as Chinese territory or stay out of it. The writer views the Taiwan issue as a family matter for Chinese people, criticizing Western involvement as a legacy of imperialism.
The South China Morning Post published an opinion piece titled 'My Take | How to prevent war with China: return Taiwan to the mainland,' in which the author rejects an offer to interview Eyck Freymann, a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University, and review his new book 'Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China.' Freymann's work outlines strategies to defend Taiwan against potential Chinese aggression, but the author dismisses it as an American-imposed framework.
Describing himself as a simple man, the writer argues that the solution is to recognize Taiwan as inherently Chinese territory since ancient times. Otherwise, outsiders should ignore the issue and mind their own business. The piece highlights China's tragic modern history, partly due to Western imperialism, noting that reunification across the Taiwan Strait will require time, give-and-take, goodwill, compromises, and guarantees. Regardless of the outcome, it remains a Chinese affair, not the West's concern.
The author anticipates Freymann's disagreement, suggesting the scholar might label the view as naive, nationalistic, or jingoistic. The article asserts that Beijing's claim to Taiwan is more legitimate than U.S. holdings in the Western Hemisphere or Israel's in Palestine.