美國「一個中國政策」演變與兩岸關係發展

The Evolution of the U.S. “One-China Policy” and Its Impact on the Development of Cross-strait Relations

美國多年以來透過「一個中國政策」處理兩岸關係，試圖在兩岸之間維持一種巧妙的平衡與模糊。冷戰初期，我國成為美國盟國，共同對抗共產主義擴張。但是當美國得知中蘇之間出現外交摩擦與邊境衝突時，便考慮拉攏中國大陸以分裂共產陣營。此時就出現了發展「一個中國政策」的契機。在美國與中國大陸簽署的1972年《上海公報》、1978年《建交公報》與1982年《八一七公報》中，美國並未主張「臺灣是中國的一部份」，只是「認知到」中國大陸的立場。雖然美國於1978年底宣布與我國斷交，但是又透過《台灣關係法》與「六項保證」維繫了雙方的非官方關係，並持續提供軍售。在此背景之下，兩岸關係也從相互敵視開始有了逐步發展。然而，美國從未支持過台灣獨立，以免引發兩岸衝突。因為，維持亞太地區的安全穩定才是符合美國國家利益的主要考量。

The United States has dealt with cross-strait relations based on its“one-China policy”and maintained subtle balance and ambiguity between both sides of the Taiwan Strait for several years. In the early era of the Cold War, the Republic of China became an ally of the United States, and they both cooperated to stop the expansion of Communism. However, when the U.S. was aware that there had been diplomatic disputes and border conflicts between PRC and the Soviet Union, it manipulated to tempt PRC to drive a wedge between those Communist countries. During that time, the opportunity to cultivate the“one-China policy”just appeared. In the Shanghai Communique (1972), the Normalization Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the U.S. and the PRC (1979), and the 817 Communique (1982), the United States have never argued that“Taiwan is a part of China”but only acknowledged PRC’s political position. Although the U.S. declared to break diplomatic relations with ROC officially in the end of 1978, Washington still maintained unofficial relations with Taipei via the Taiwan Relations Act and“Six Assurances”while continuing to approve its arms sale to Taiwan. Under this circumstance, cross-strait relations still gradually improved from mutual antagonism to a better situation. Nevertheless, the U.S. never supports Taiwan’s independence to prevent cross-strait conflicts from happening. Maintaining security and stability in the Asia-Pacific is the primary concern of the United States based on its national interest.