Taiwan’s unsaid response to China’s belligerence in a forced reunion

@esha_aphale

Mumbai: Even as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is determined to reunite Taiwan with its mainland territory, now an independent country, Taiwan has proved with its actions and decisions, it has no interest in becoming a part of mainland China. Chinese president Xi Jinping, believes that the reunification of Taiwan with China must be fulfilled and would go as far as to use force to achieve this. 

The strained relations between Taiwan and China, which ultimately led to the split, occurred during the bitter conflict between the Communists led by Mao Tse-tung and the Nationalist led by Chiang Kai-shek in 1949. The Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan across the shores and set up an independent government there. The civil war led to the split, and created two self-governing bodies – People’s Republic of China and Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC).

While China refuses to accept Taiwan’s independent status, about 15 countries recognise Taiwan as an independent entity. The countries include Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Tuvalu, Nauru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Vatican City. Other countries either support China’s stance, or remain ambiguous in their position. 

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province, similar to a child throwing a tantrum, and believes that it will return to being recognized as a Chinese territory soon. Even though it’s been well over seven decades since the split between the two countries occurred.

Taiwan’s recent tactical move in warming up diplomatic relations with Lithuania, proved that China’s hope for a reunion is nothing but a delusion

Taiwan sending an unsaid response to China by strengthening its relations with the Baltic state, Lithuania, has yet again proved that there will be no territorial collaboration. The two countries, Taiwan and Lithuania, have a similar background when it comes to gaining their independence and setting an impetus for strengthening their ties with other countries. 

China has downgraded Lithuania’s trade relations to charge d’affaires and removed them from the customs list after Taiwan set up a de facto embassy in the Baltic state, keeping in line with its “One-China” policy. The “One-China” policy, or principle, says there is only one sovereign state under the name China, and Taiwan is part of China. This decision by China further cemented the fact that it does not want to acknowledge that Taiwan is an autonomous entity.

In one particular episode of “Vision on China,” Kuan-Ting Chen, the current CEO of Taiwan NextGen Foundation, and Julie Yu-Wen Chen, professor of Sinology at the University of Helsinki, discussed the impact of Taiwan making a “friend” on specific policies. “When Taiwan makes a friend, it does much more than create an impetus for Chinese economic coercion – it also changes the norms and narratives around the so-called One-China Principle and China’s assertion that Taiwan is not an independent political entity”, they added. 

China believes that Lithuania has set a bad precedent internationally by undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lithuania’s response to this was that the Taiwanese embassy has no diplomatic representation yet, but its establishment should not have come as a surprise, and in no way or form is this promoting any conflict with the “One-China” policy. 

The Lithuanian government simply wants to strengthen cultural, economic, and scientific ties with Taiwan and its government. Apart from setting up a representative office in the Baltic state, Taiwan has set up a fund of $200 million to invest in Lithuania and its various projects. 

Eric Huang, a Taiwanese representative in Lithuania, stated that the first investments would be expected this year (2022) and would be in biotechnology, semiconductor, laser, and various similar industries in Lithuania. Apart from the $200 million, Taiwan has also pledged $1 billion to Lithuania in an attempt to counter China’s response to the Baltic nation.

The Baltic state’s foreign minister warned in a foreboding statement, “China is using a trade war with Lithuania as a ‘weapon of economic destruction in a test of democratic values that the West cannot afford to fail.” China has also been sending messages to multinationals, warning them not to trade or supply parts with Lithuania as it will lead to them not being able to sell in the Chinese market or even buy Chinese supplies.

One could say that China’s vehement denial and “bullying” other nations not to create the same relations as Taiwan and Lithuania could come from the general fear that Taiwan has no qualms in having trade relations and establishing itself as an autonomous entity. The move shatters China’s vision that one day Taiwan will return to China and reclaim its title of being a Chinese territory. The grandiose hope that once China had, is now turning flimsy due to the firm strides and decisions the Taiwanese government is taking.

About the Author: Esha Aphale is a student of International Studies and Journalism, and has a keen interest in reading, writing, and world affairs.