- Article gives historical, geopolitical and strategic reasons why China wants Taiwan to become part of Mainland China.
In an unprecedented move Chinese embassy
in New Delhi has issued a series of directives to Indian media and media houses
regarding coverage of impending National Day of Taiwan on 10th October.
Press release issued by the Press Section of the embassy which appears to be more of a diktat to Indian media about reporting of the National Day of Taiwan says, âWe will like to remind our media friends that there is only one China in the world, and the government of the Peopleâs Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is inalienable part of Chinaâs territory.â
It further threatens the media, âTaiwan shall not be referred to as a âcountryâ (ânationâ) or âRepublic of Chinaâ or the leader of the Chinaâs Taiwan region as âPresidentâ, so as not to send wrong signals to the general public.â
No such advisory was issued by the Embassy in 2019. However, after the event it issued a statement on âMisreporting by Indian Media on Taiwanâ seriously objecting to and expressing strong dissatisfaction at some of the Indian media referring to Taiwan as a âcountryâ.
âTaiwan is an inalienable part of Chinaâs territory. It is an objective fact and a universally recognized norm governing international relations,â emphasised the Chinese envoy.
What is so different this year that the
embassy has pre-empted and issued a virtual threat to the Indian media?
China is preparing for celebration of the hundredth year of formation of Communist Party of China (CCP) under the watchful eye of all powerful Xi Jinping. The current behaviour of the Chinese diplomatic staff is the manifestation of its âWolf Warriorâ diplomacy. Xi wants China not only to be powerful but assertive as well.
It is also application of Chinaâs â3 W Strategyâ which includes media warfare. Xi desires that CCP should not only control selected foreign media but also be able to manipulate it to further its ideology and portray its Comprehensive National Power (CNP).
Chinese New Year-Indian connection.
But why China is so sensitive about Taiwan?
It is said that Taiwan would be the main trigger of Sino-American conflict if it ever manifests. Ironically, USA does not officially recognise Republic of China or Taiwan. Even India doesnât.
Only 17 countries in the world recognise
Taiwan. Even the UNO does not recognise Republic of China which was a signatory
to its formation.
Yet USA is the biggest arm supplier to Taiwan, its 11thlargest trading partner and avowed guarantor of its sovereignty. The self-ruled islandâs uncertain future, amid tensions between Washington and a newly powerful Beijing, is the greatest unresolved legacy of the Chinese civil war.
While China claims Taiwan to be one of its regions and refers to it as Taiwan region, the latter is in no mood to alter the status quo and lose its status as independent democratic nation. Xi has offered to resolve the matter on the pattern of Hong Kong by advocating âOne Nation, Two Systemsâ model which has been rejected by the island nation.
Dwelling into history the dispute is a
legacy of the Mao led Chinese civil war. The island formally became a Chinese province only in 1887. But Chinaâs faltering Qing imperial government was forced to cede it to Japan in 1895 after a brief war.
Japan ran Taiwan as a colony until 1945, when it was effectively handed over to Chiang Kai-shekâs Nationalist (KMT) government in China.
In 1949 Mao Zedongâs forces won the Chinese civil war and the KMT fled to the island, ruling it under martial law until democratizing in the 1980s, while the Communists controlled China. It continues to remain a dispute till date since no peace treaty has ever been signed.
However, Chinaâs official position on Taiwan is unambiguous. It claims that Taiwan is, was and always has been an inseparable part of China, and that international law supports Chinaâs claim. This is grilled into every main land Chinese childâs mind as part of the CCPâs ideology campaign with no second thought on the issue and no public discussion of alternate views is permitted.
CCP wants outright reunification, the
sooner the better, seeing the recovery of the island as the final chapter in
the civil war and end of past humiliations when China was forced to cede
territory to foreigners.
Xi has succeeded in reasserting party control over the society, which had loosened during the era of his immediate predecessors who believed in âcollective leadership.â His clarion call to the nation after assuming its control was âDonât forget the original intention. Stick to the missionâ.
With multifarious threats challenging him
the slogan has become more relevant in the present days and is emerging as a
battle cry for unity and perseverance. With increasing US interference in
Taiwan and non-reconciliatory approach of its newly elected hardliner President
Iron lady Tsai Ing-wen, China is becoming increasingly sensitive and restive
about Taiwan.
On the other hand Taiwan is becoming more
assertive and confident.
During the ongoing pandemic the Taiwanese were denied entry in various countries believing them to be Chinese since their passport is of Republic of China. Taiwanese government has therefore decided to change the cover of their passports to read âTaiwan Passportâ while retaining the Republic of China in Mandarin. It has its own currency New Taiwan dollar controlled by the central bank of Republic of China. It is increasingly stamping Taiwanese made goods as âMade in Taiwanâ, all this is not going well with the CCP which is increasingly threatening to punish errant island nation.
China is also worried and annoyed with the
fact that more and more nations are speaking up for Taiwan and are reluctant to
back down under Chinese pressure.
Xi is being labelled as a revisionist and expansionist and the world is getting united to counter Chinaâs expansionist designs under the banner of democratic forces and supporting the Taiwanese cause.
There are growing voices in India for
recognition of Taiwan though that may not be easy due to prevailing agreements
and treaties with PRC. However, a change in intent and desire to strengthen
relations between the two countries has been signalled by the present regime by
deputing two of its senior party leaders to attend the swearing in ceremony of
the new President.
Kailash is part of Indiaâs Civilizational Identity.
The CCP is unwilling to settle for
anything less than reunification. For Xi Jinping it has an additional emotional
angle as well related to the family history.
China regards Taiwan as unfinished part of
the civil war and Xi is a firm believer of this historic mission.
Apart from being an unfinished mission of
the civil war, it is the geo strategic location and buzzing high-tech micro- chip industry of Taiwan that is the compelling reason for China to claim ownership of the island territory. Taiwan is also worldâs 22nd largest economy and an important supply chain link of Silicon Valley. Many high-tech companies from the main land have changed base to the island territory with Taiwan emerging as a potential high-tech super power.
It is home to the worldâs biggest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd.
Taiwanâs location and economy are critical to China in its pursuance of becoming the ânumero unoâ world power. If Taiwan becomes integral to China as desired by the later it would become a Pacific Power, strengthen its position in South China
Sea and be in a position to threaten vital US interests in the Pacific, have
leverage to cut off oil supplies to Japan and South Korea, important US allies
in the region.
Economically, it would have control over worldâs major cutting-edge technologies. All this explains Chinaâs sensitivities viz a viz Taiwan and its allergy to other nations calling it a âcountryâ rather than Taiwan region of Peopleâs Republic of China. USA on the other hand does not want to take any chance in the security of the island-nation that may help China to fulfil its mission.
Stepped-up US support for Taiwan has
angered China which has often cautioned USA that the same amounts to US support
for Taiwan Independence which is an anathema to China and China may forcibly
occupy the island by launching military operations across the strait.
With India and China on the verge of war in Eastern Ladakh and heightened anti-China sentiments across the country, the Chinese are apprehensive of the Indian media giving prominence to Taiwan on its National Day. It is to pre-empt the same and gauge Indiaâs concerns to its sensitivities that the advisory has been issued by the Chinese Embassy.
Author is a political commentator, security and strategic analyst.
Article is courtesy Indian Defence Review and was
first published here
eSamskriti.com has obtained permission from IDR to share.
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Editor - The
People of India rejected the Chinese threat and wished Taiwan on its National
Day.
Tweet from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
There is more to India than the Taj President Tsai.
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