Taiwan has become the scene of a power struggle between the great powers, but it is also an important place for the whole world. The vast majority of all the world’s semiconductors, which are needed in both cars and computers, are produced in Taiwan.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visit to Taiwan has raised tensions between China and the United States. Pelosi is the highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years. He is also a well-known China critic.
China opposed Pelosi’s visit and warned in advance of its consequences.
– China is absolutely furious. Taiwan is a core issue for China’s national pride. The fact that such a high-ranking representative of the United States defies China’s threats is a very big insult to China, commented ‘s Asia correspondent Kirsi Crowley Ylen in the television news.
China’s fury can be seen in the military exercises, which are the largest in a long time and which it plans to conduct at least until the end of this week. China organizes them in sea areas and in the air near Taiwan.
– Already at this moment, the tension has definitely risen higher than in the past, says Crowley.
The G7 group of industrialized countries has asked China for patience in military exercises, and Taiwan has announced that it has increased its defense readiness.
– It seems hard to believe that China would take over Taiwan because of this in such a politically sensitive year, when the president to Xi Jinping let’s ask for extra time. But when you shoot hard, the risk of damage is also obvious, Crowley states.
“Taiwan is China’s crown jewel”
According to Crowley, Taiwan has become the stage of the power struggle between China and the United States, where the influence of the great powers is measured.
The Chinese Communist Party considers Taiwan a rebel province. In practice, however, Taiwan is an independent island nation without extensive international recognition. The United States has supported Taiwan for a long time, including with military aid, but has not officially recognized it as an independent state.
The positions of the great powers have not changed.
Taiwan is also an important place for the whole world, because the vast majority of all the world’s semiconductors are produced there. They are used in everything from cars to washing machines and computers.
If China blocks shipments of semiconductors or stops importing them, it will affect the whole world.
– Taiwan is China’s crown jewel, which it has claimed to take over one day, says Kirsi Crowley.