Relations between China and Taiwan, which has extensive autonomy, have deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks. This week, China has imposed sanctions, among other things, on the US Lockheed Martin aviation group, which trades arms with Taiwan.
China does not look favorably on the rapid tightening of relations between Taiwan, which it considers a rebel province, and the United States.
1. Why is Taiwan’s position of interest right now?
During the beginning of the year, Taiwan has visibly increased cooperation with the United States.
President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen met on Tuesday with American congressmen in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei. The five-day visit included officials from the Ministry of Defense, among others.
The American company Lockheed Martin, which sold weapons to Taiwan, was recently put on China’s sanctions list. China banned the import of the company’s products and new investments in its territory. The United States has delivered to Taiwan, among other things, a maritime missile defense system and F-16 fighter jets.
The United States is interested in Taiwan’s developing technology, especially microchip production. Foreign Minister of Taiwan Joseph Wu has been visiting Washington since the beginning of the week. Among other things, security cooperation has been on the agenda.
China opposes Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Fenglian’s according to “all official interaction and cooperation between Taiwan and the United States”.
2. What’s so exciting about Taiwan’s position?
Taiwan’s current status stems from the events of 1949. The Kuomingtang, which opposed the communists, fled to Taiwan at that time.
China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has assured that it will keep it under its control by force if necessary.
China has campaigned for Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation. Officially, Taiwan has relations with 14 countries. There are informal relations with dozens of countries.
3. What are Taiwan’s own goals?
Taiwan aims for a gradual expansion of self-government.
Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party wants to cement self-government and eventually independence for the country. Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024.
Taiwan wants to strengthen its international position, for example, by establishing trade relations around the world. Its Technology Industry is of interest to Western companies.
4. What is happening in the South China Sea right now?
The South China Sea is one of the focal points of regional armament and great power competition.
China disputes the Spratly and Paracel Islands and the Scarborough Shoal with the Philippines and Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei in the South China Sea.
The ships of the Chinese Coast Guard and, for example, Vietnamese fishing vessels have been making noise in the sea area. Underwater natural resources such as oil are of interest and the sea area is important in terms of food production and shipping.
China’s military presence at sea has strengthened even more during the beginning of the year. It has already built airports and radar stations there in the past. The Economist writes about it, among others (you will switch to another service).
Despite the opposition of neighboring countries, the patrol ships move in the U-shaped, “nine-dash line” area.
5. How does the great power competition between the United States, China and Russia affect Taiwan?
Taiwan’s geopolitical position has become even more prominent since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The United States wants to strengthen its presence in Asia as well. Although it has increased military and other cooperation with Taiwan, Pres Joe Biden has followed the line of his predecessors. The United States has supported the one-China policy and has not directly supported Taiwan’s formal independence.
The relationship between the great powers is further overshadowed by the case of Chinese observation balloons that entered US airspace and were shut down.
China and Russia, on the other hand, have become closer as a result of the war in Ukraine. The Communist Party’s number one diplomat Wang Yi visited Moscow on Tuesday and assured that “strategic cooperation will continue”. The cooperation is also reflected in the South China Sea.
According to Russia, China’s sovereign presence in the region rightly supports the security policy interests of the billion-dollar country.
Reuters, AFP