China – Taiwan relations

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 12, May 2022

Reference News

Taiwan hopes that the world would sanction China like it is sanctioning Russia for its war on Ukraine if Beijing invaded the island.

• Taiwan has joined in Western-led sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Why war on Ukraine has brought the spotlight on to Taiwan?

Ukraine’s plight has won broad public sympathy in Taiwan due to what many people view as the parallels between what is happening in Ukraine and what could happen if China ever uses force to bring Taiwan it claims as its own under Chinese control.

• Taiwan has raised its alert level since the Ukraine war began, wary of China making a similar move, though the government in Taipei has reported no signs of an imminent Chinese attack.

Recent clashes:

China’s armed forces carried out another round of exercises near Taiwan last week to improve joint combat operations.

• Taiwan has complained for the past two years about frequent Chinese military activity near it, mostly concentrated in the southern and southwestern part of the island’s air defence identification zone, or ADIZ. 

China- Taiwan relations- Background:

China has claimed Taiwan through its “one China” policy since the Chinese civil war forced the defeated Kuomintang, or Nationalist, to flee to the island in 1949 and has vowed to bring it under Beijing’s rule, by force if necessary.

• While Taiwan is self-governed and de facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland.
• Under the “one country, two systems” formula, Taiwan would have the right to run its own affairs; a similar arrangement is used in Hong Kong.

Presently, Taiwan is claimed by China, which refuses diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the region.

 India’s position on Taiwan:

• India’s policy on Taiwan is clear and consistent and it is focused on promoting interactions in areas of trade, investment and tourism among others.
• Government facilitates and promotes interactions in areas of trade, investment, tourism, culture, education and other such people-to-people exchanges.
• However, India doesn’t have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but both sides have trade and people-to-people ties.

Indo- Taiwan relations:

• Although they do not have formal diplomatic ties, Taiwan and India have been cooperating in various fields.
• India has refused to endorse the “one-China” policy since 2010.