Taiwan’s recent request to join the AUKUS security pact, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, has been criticized as an opportunistic political maneuver, according to Chinese experts cited by the Global Times. Douglas Hsu, chief representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia, reportedly urged the Albanese government to include Taiwan in Pillar II of the alliance, as reported by the Australian Financial Review on Monday.
Experts told the Global Times that Taiwan’s move comes amid heightened tensions between China and Japan, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial remarks suggesting that a “Taiwan contingency” could pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Analysts say Taiwan’s request appears timed to leverage geopolitical uncertainties and demonstrate its capacity to align with the US, UK, and Australia, while potentially creating friction in improving China-Australia relations.
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Taiwan’s initiative is largely aimed at signaling its relevance in international security networks, but also reflects growing anxiety over uncertain support from major powers like the US. Experts emphasized that including Taiwan in AUKUS is highly unlikely, as doing so would breach the one-China principle, a cornerstone of diplomatic relations between China and the three member countries.
The Global Times noted that Taiwan’s strategy of seeking external support for its independence ambitions is viewed by Chinese analysts as a short-sighted political stunt. Such efforts, they argue, will not provide the security guarantees Taipei hopes for, especially given ongoing uncertainties over AUKUS’s future and the US-led review of the pact.
Chinese commentators warned that pursuing membership in AUKUS is unlikely to succeed and could lead to political embarrassment. They stressed that Taiwan should abandon illusions of leveraging foreign alliances, and recognize that it remains an inseparable part of China, while attempts to gain international legitimacy for “Taiwan independence” are futile.
The Global Times highlighted that Taiwan’s bid reflects deeper anxieties in the island’s Democratic Progressive Party over security and international positioning, but experts maintain that the path of political stunts and reliance on external powers carries significant risks and offers no substantive security benefits.
