China says that it has official diplomatic relations with 181 countries on the basis of its “one China” principle, but a study published by a National University of Singapore (NUS) academic found that only 51 countries fully comply with Beijing’s definition of “one China.”
As China ups its intimidation of Taiwan, more countries are taking a clearer stance, defining Taiwan as an independent sovereign nation separate from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
In the paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, NUS assistant professor Chong Ja Ian (莊嘉穎) says that many countries use different wording: Forty-one countries “recognize” the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China with no explicit mention of Taiwan’s sovereignty, 16 countries only “take note of” China’s claim, the US and nine other countries “acknowledge” the PRC’s claim, six countries “understand” or “respect” the claim and many others neither recognize the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China nor mention Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Countries use a broad range of official formulations beyond Beijing’s “one China” principle, thus they could have diplomatic relations with the PRC and robust unofficial ties with Taiwan.
However, as China pursues its claim over Taiwan, as well as the South China and East China seas, its expansionist plans and attempts to stand with Russia as an authoritarian partner have pushed democratic countries to clarify their stance on Taiwan, either opposing the “one China” principle or calling for the maintenance of the “status quo” within the geopolitical reality that Taiwan is already an independent, sovereign nation separate from the PRC. Many countries are also in support of Taiwan’s self-determination. US President Joe Biden has said that, although the US’ “one China” policy does not encourage Taiwanese independence, “Taiwan makes their own judgements about their independence... That’s their decision.”
Taipei has changed its position on the “one China” principle to deal with different realities. In the Martial Law era, the Republic of China (ROC) government under the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime declared itself the legitimate government of China, including Taiwan. Today, the Democratic Progressive Party government objects to China’s claims over Taiwan, saying that Taiwan is already a sovereign state, so there is no need to declare independence.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in his report at the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th National Congress last year insisted on a stricter “one China” principle and pushing for unification with Taiwan, irrespective of what Taiwanese want.
Chong’s study also says that Beijing pressured Taipei to adopt the so-called “1992 consensus,” but refuses any alternative to its “one China” principle, including the “different interpretations” the KMT has used as the basis for its talks with the PRC.
The KMT last week sent a delegation to meet China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤). Song reiterated the importance of implementing Xi’s will and completing China’s strategy to resolve “the Taiwan question”, in line with a white paper released last year aiming for unification with Taiwan. The paper does not rule out the use of military force.
Former vice president Lien Chan (連戰), in his memoir published last month, called on Beijing to face up to the existence of the “ROC government,” and said that “only with such political mutual trust can cross-strait dialogue begin.” China criticized him, saying that his emphasis on the ROC was essentially a “two-state theory” implying independence. This should show the KMT that Beijing’s idea of “unification” would mean the end of the ROC.
The idea of “one China” has long been a major cause of antagonism across the Taiwan Strait and rigid diplomatic interactions. However, with more countries realizing Taiwan’s economic and political importance, China’s stranglehold on global diplomacy will hopefully weaken.
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