SECTION 1.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & GLOBAL POLITICS 23

UNIT 2
WORLD POWERS’ RELATIONS &
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

PRE-READING TASKS Do some research and discuss the following questions in pairs/groups.
1. Do some research on Sino-US relations‘ history regarding the Taiwan issue.
Present and discuss your findings in pairs/groups, creating a timeline of major events.
2. What is the present status of these two powers‘ relationship?
Present and discuss your findings in pairs/groups.

READING FOCUS: VIEWPOINTS FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES

One of the ways to present supporting ideas for a main idea is providing
viewpoints/opinions from different sources.
Read the article America and China: Taiwan Issue and answer the question in
the table below from the author‟s perspective. Can you supplement the author‟s
provided points with your own opinions?
America China Taiwan

What do they want?

Why do they want so?

What did they do?

Why did they do so?

 24 READING THE NEWS 3

MAIN READING

America and China: Taiwan Issue

Preventing a war over the island is becoming increasingly difficult.

Extracted from The Economist August 11, 2022

1. America and China agree on

very little these days. Yet on the subject
of Taiwan, at least in one regard, they
are in total harmony. The status quo
surrounding the self-governing island,
which China claims and whose thriving
democracy America supports, is
changing in dangerous ways, say
officials on both sides. War does not
look imminent, but the uneasy peace
that has held for more than six decades
is fragile. Ask them who is at fault,
however, and the harmony shatters.
2. That much is clear from the crisis 4. In part this reflects the breathtaking
triggered this month by a visit to Taiwan change of the past half century. Taiwan
by the speaker of America‘s House of has blossomed from a military dictatorship
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. She was into a prosperous, liberal democracy of
well within her rights, but her trip was 24m people, nearly all of them Han
provocative. After Ms. Pelosi left, China Chinese. Its citizens are more than twice
fired missiles over the island and carried as rich as mainlanders. Taiwan‘s president,
out live-fire drills that encircled it, as if Tsai Ing-wen, has made no formal moves
it were rehearsing for a blockade. towards independence, but the island is
drifting away from the mainland. Today
3. Since the previous stand-off in
very few Taiwanese say they want formal
1995-96, America, China and Taiwan
independence immediately, if only
have all grown uneasy with the
because that would surely provoke an
ambiguities and contradictions - the
attack. But even fewer favour complete
status quo - on which peace precariously
unification.
rests. If the world is to avoid war, it
urgently needs to strike a new balance. 5. America has changed, too. After
intervening to protect Taiwan twice in
the 1950s, it began to doubt that it was
 SECTION 1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & GLOBAL POLITICS 25

worth defending, but the island‘s signals. It postponed a routine test

democratic success and its importance as launch of an intercontinental ballistic
a source of semiconductors have upped missile. And Ms. Pelosi‘s plane took a
the ante. Today allies such as Japan see circuitous route to Taiwan, to avoid
resolute support for Taiwan as a test of flying over Chinese bases in the South
America‘s standing as a dominant and China Sea.
dependable power in the western Pacific. 8. The danger is that China uses the
America has made no formal crisis to set new boundaries for its
commitment to defend Taiwan directly,
encroachments into what Taiwan
adopting instead a policy of ―strategic considers its airspace and territorial
ambiguity‖. But amid growing waters. It could also attempt to impose
Sino-American rivalry, and with even stricter limits on the island‘s
politicians in Washington vying to dealings with the rest of the world.
sound tough on China, there is little
doubt that America would join a fight 9. That must not happen. The task
over Taiwan today. Indeed, President Joe for America and its allies is to resist
Biden has repeatedly said as much- these efforts without getting into a fight
much - though
though each time his staff have walked and to persuade China that such a
back his remarks. military action is not worth the risk.

6. But whether peace lasts is largely 10. Sometimes a public stand-off

up to President Xi Jinping, its with China makes sense. More often it
strongman. He gives ample grounds for causes a lot of trouble for very little gain.
pessimism. As China has grown rich, he The G7 condemned China‘s
has nurtured a strong nationalism, and missile-lobbing, as did Japan and
linked unification with Taiwan to his Australia. But South Korea did not and
goal of ―national rejuvenation‖ by 2049. South East Asian countries have been
China‘s armed forces have been building loth to take sides. Even as it condemns
the capacity to take the island by force; China, the Biden administration should
its navy now has more ships than stress that it does not support formal
America‘s. Some generals in independence for Taiwan.
Washington think an attack could occur 11. War is not inevitable. If the
in the next decade. invasion of Ukraine teaches one lesson,
7. Fortunately, China‘s actions in it is that even a supposedly easy victory
this crisis have been muscular but can turn into a drawn-out struggle, with
calibrated - designed to show its anger ruinous consequences at home. America
and might, while avoiding escalation. Its and Taiwan do not have to prove that a
forces have been deployed so as not to war would likely to fail, just cast enough
start a war. America has sent similar doubt to persuade Mr. Xi to wait.
 26 READING THE NEWS 3

UNDERSTANDING THE ARTICLE

1. Word and phrase explanation

Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions as used in the
article.
a. the harmony shatters (P. 1)
…………………………………………………………………………..……………
b. She was well within her rights (P. 2)
………………………………………………………………………………..………
c. live-fire drills (P. 2)
……………………………………………………………………………..…………
d. upped the ante (P. 5)
…………………………………………………………………………..……………
e. vying to sound tough on China (P. 5)
……………………………………………………………………………..…………
f. walked back his remarks (P. 5)
…………………………………………………………………………..……………
g. muscular but calibrated (P. 7)
……………………………………………………………………………..…………
h. a public stand-off (P. 10)
……………………………………………………………………………..…………
i. a drawn-out struggle (P. 11)
…………………………………………………………………………..……………

2. Comprehension questions
Read the article and answer the following questions in your own words.
a. What do America and China agree on the subject of Taiwan?
……………………………………………………………………..…………………
……………………………………………………………………..…………………
b. What are the impacts of the trip to Taiwan by US Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi on the situation?
……………………………………………………………………..…………………
……………………………………………………………………..…………………
 SECTION 1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & GLOBAL POLITICS 27

c. What do Taiwanese people want for their island‘s political fate? Why?
………………………………………..………………………………………………
……………………………………..…………………………………………………
d. How has the US changed its policy toward Taiwan since the 1950s?
………………………………………..………………………………………………
………………………………………..………………………………………………
e. How has China dealt with Taiwan issue recently? with the Taiwan issue

………………………………………..………………………………………………
………………………………………..………………………………………………
f. What should the US do to avoid a war with China, according to the author?
……………………………………..…………………………………………………
…………………………………..……………………………………………………

SUMMARY:

Summarize the main ideas of the last two paragraphs (from “Sometimes a
public stand-off with China makes sense …” to the end) into 2-3 sentences (40-50
words).
………………………………………………………………………………….……
……………………………………………………………………………….………
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 28 READING THE NEWS 3

TRANSLATION

Translate the last two paragraphs into Vietnamese, from “Sometimes a public
stand-off with China makes sense …” to the end.
…………………………………………………………………………………..……
……………………………………………………………………………….………
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…..……………………………………………………………………………………
…..……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………..…
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…..……………………………………………………………………………………

DISCUSSION PROMPTS

1. In addition to the Taiwan issue, what are some other issues of concern between
China and America?
2. In addition to China and America, which countries also pay special attention to
the Taiwan issue? Why?
3. Do you think a future war could be triggered by the tension on the Taiwan
island? Why / Why not?
 SECTION 1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & GLOBAL POLITICS 29

EXTRA READING

Looking for Hope on the Climate? Look Here

Extracted from The Washington Post October 6, 2023
1. After a summer of climate-related requires those who pollute to pay for it
disasters, the latest report from the U.N. remains the most efficient way to reduce
Framework Convention on Climate the emissions that drive global warming,
Change is a dire warning for the world. because it forces individuals and
The planet faces a ―rapidly narrowing companies to think about reducing their
window‖ to avert catastrophic levels of carbon footprints without clunky
warming. Even if countries fulfill government mandates.
existing pledges, the Earth is projected to 4. For decades, carbon prices were
warm by 2.4 degrees Celsius by the turn found primarily in wealthy nations. With
of the century — a smaller increase than the exception of the United States, every
was projected a few years ago but still Group of Seven country prices carbon
well past the 1.5-degree threshold through either an emissions-trading scheme
scientists say the globe shouldn‘t cross. or a tax. But now, more middle- and low-
2. In the lead-up to the annual U.N. income nations are joining the trend.
climate conference (COP28) starting China‘s national trading scheme launched
next month, this forecast should put in 2021 after a long pilot period. Though
policymakers and business leaders on concerns remain about data accuracy, on
notice. On top of that, early analyses which these programs‘ effectiveness rests,
show the month of September breaking a their existence still signals a step forward in
global heat record by a wide margin. Yet intent and infrastructure.
the news is not all dread and despair. 5. India, too, is starting to
The U.N. report also touts the progress experiment with market-based
made since the Paris agreement was regulations. In the state of Gujarat,
negotiated in 2015, including ―early researchers from the University of
signs of transformation and urgency‖ Chicago, Yale University, the University
that could remake the climate fight. To of Warwick and the Abdul Latif Jameel
be sure, these green shoots of innovation Poverty Action Lab investigated the
are not enough — but they can provide impact of a market for particulate matter
evidence-based building blocks for the emissions. Economist Michael
Greenstone and co-authors found that
crucial next decade of climate action.
industrial plants that participated in the
3. One glimmer of progress is that market reduced emissions by 20 to 30
more places are starting to price carbon percent; the market mechanism also
emissions. A market-based approach that lowered the costs of achieving this
 30 READING THE NEWS 3

decline, compared with other emissions- becoming more cost-effective. Solar

cutting approaches. While the program panel costs have fallen approximately 98
targeted local air pollutants, these percent in the past three decades, while
emissions are closely linked with the cost of electrolyzers — critical
greenhouse gases. Based on the results, technology for renewable and nuclear
other Indian states and cities are power — is projected to fall 60 to 80
launching similar programs, and the percent in the next 10 years. These
central government has started working developments mean green technology
toward a national carbon market. could finally be attainable for developing
6. Another encouraging sign is the nations. The challenge is deploying them
growing openness to innovative ways to to meet growing demand.
help countries pay for green
9. For any of these transformations
development. Since 2021, several
to move the climate needle, countries
countries have entered agreements
known as Just Energy Transition need accurate monitoring, particularly of
Partnerships, multibillion-dollar ventures emissions. Though low-cost emissions
leveraging public and private capital. sensors are now readily available, many
Under these models, developing nations places have been slow to build
build investment plans to move away transparent monitoring systems. The
from fossil fuels, with a focus on local United States and other delegations at
contexts. Not all of these partnerships the U.N. need to make serious data-
have operated smoothly — but, as they gathering an international priority.
adapt, these models could become a
10. As COP28 approaches, the
promising way to support sustainability
focus should remain on the significant
in the developing world.
challenges ahead: investing in climate
7. Then there are the strides in resilience and adaptation; helping
climate technology. In a new report, the vulnerable communities adjust to the
International Energy Agency concludes green transition; and improving
that existing technologies could deliver voluntary markets and registries so they
80 percent of the emissions reductions become an additional tool to reduce
necessary by 2030. The scaling up of emissions. But world leaders should also
renewables, improvements in energy
take a close look at models and
efficiency, and surges in battery storage
transformations that already seem to be
and production in recent years are
working — and find ways to scale and
especially worth celebrating.
leverage them for the future.
8. These technologies are rapidly
EXTRA READING TASKS:

Read the article, note down the key points and discuss the message of the article
with your partner(s).