Beijing tends to say that statements critical of China “hurt the feelings of Chinese.” It has also been openly claiming that it is trying to win the “hearts and minds” of Taiwanese.
However, after its recent moves aimed at forcing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to recognize the so-called “1992 consensus,” Beijing has not only hurt the feelings of Taiwanese and failed to win over their hearts, but also pushed Taiwanese further away from itself.
Beijing’s attempts to dominate Taiwan became more blatant after Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the DPP won the presidential election on Jan. 16. The ever-growing list of oppression includes an incident in April when a Taiwanese delegation was requested to leave an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference in Brussels due to Chinese pressure; the belittlement of Taiwan at the WHO through an invitation to the World Health Assembly meeting in May referring to UN Resolution 2758 and the “one China” principle, with Beijing interpreting that as the People’s Republic of China encompassing Taiwan; the deportation of Taiwanese on suspicion of telecommunications fraud from Kenya to China; and Taiwanese officials participating in a meeting of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Italy in July being forced to leave the venue allegedly due to Chinese pressure.
There was also bullying by China at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games this month, when members of Taiwan’s team had to change the badges on their uniforms, because China said the emblem with the 12-point sun in a circle is the emblem of the Republic of China.
And lastly, Beijing’s objection is believed to be why Taiwan was not invited to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly this week in Canada.
While Beijing might give itself a pat on the back, thinking it has stepped up pressure on the Tsai administration, the outcome of its obstructionism might disappoint Chinese officials.
China’s openly hostile stance toward Taiwan and its efforts to push Taiwan out of the international community further upsets Taiwanese and causes them to view Beijing with more repulsion.
Each time Beijing behaves in a belligerent and unfriendly way toward Taiwan, it repels Taiwanese further.
Beijing’s scheming to prevent Taiwan attending the ICAO’s triennial assembly highlights what the former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration trumpeted as its diplomatic achievement three years ago, when Taiwan was invited as a special guest of then-ICAO council president Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez and took part in the 2013 ICAO assembly. It was more of a victory for Beijing, as Taiwan’s participation was arranged between the ICAO and China under the “one China” principle, with Taiwan being regarded as a province of China.
The way China has been treating Taiwan lately contradicts its “charm offensive” of the past eight years, aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Taiwanese.
Rather than finding the key to winning over the hearts of Taiwanese, Beijing — as a result of its incessant bullying and attempts to limit Taiwan’s international space — has worked to propel Taiwanese to stand in unity in their growing feeling of disgust with China.
In the US’ National Security Strategy (NSS) report released last month, US President Donald Trump offered his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. The “Trump Corollary,” presented on page 15, is a distinctly aggressive rebranding of the more than 200-year-old foreign policy position. Beyond reasserting the sovereignty of the western hemisphere against foreign intervention, the document centers on energy and strategic assets, and attempts to redraw the map of the geopolitical landscape more broadly. It is clear that Trump no longer sees the western hemisphere as a peaceful backyard, but rather as the frontier of a new Cold War. In particular,
When it became clear that the world was entering a new era with a radical change in the US’ global stance in US President Donald Trump’s second term, many in Taiwan were concerned about what this meant for the nation’s defense against China. Instability and disruption are dangerous. Chaos introduces unknowns. There was a sense that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) might have a point with its tendency not to trust the US. The world order is certainly changing, but concerns about the implications for Taiwan of this disruption left many blind to how the same forces might also weaken
As the new year dawns, Taiwan faces a range of external uncertainties that could impact the safety and prosperity of its people and reverberate in its politics. Here are a few key questions that could spill over into Taiwan in the year ahead. WILL THE AI BUBBLE POP? The global AI boom supported Taiwan’s significant economic expansion in 2025. Taiwan’s economy grew over 7 percent and set records for exports, imports, and trade surplus. There is a brewing debate among investors about whether the AI boom will carry forward into 2026. Skeptics warn that AI-led global equity markets are overvalued and overleveraged
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced that she would dissolve parliament on Friday. Although the snap election on Feb. 8 might appear to be a domestic affair, it would have real implications for Taiwan and regional security. Whether the Takaichi-led coalition can advance a stronger security policy lies in not just gaining enough seats in parliament to pass legislation, but also in a public mandate to push forward reforms to upgrade the Japanese military. As one of Taiwan’s closest neighbors, a boost in Japan’s defense capabilities would serve as a strong deterrent to China in acting unilaterally in the
RSS