Less than two months into the year, and the world is witnessing a China that can no longer enjoy its demographic dividend. China has also lost its credibility in the global market. Beneath a variety of reciprocal transactions lie China’s unpredictable schemes, tricks and monitoring.
Is there any reason for the world to obey Beijing’s rule and refrain from establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan? Beijing has been luring many countries to its side, but would Beijing dare wage a war against any country that has official diplomatic relations with Taiwan?
Moreover, the US Congress has started to value Taiwan’s significance more than ever.
“It is time to end the 1979 agreement of one China, Taiwan is not part of China. It has its own identity, it has its own country ... and that’ll be the basis of any legislation that I put forward,” Republican US Representative Tom Tiffany said.
Last month, Tiffany and 18 other Republican members of the US Congress introduced a resolution, urging the US to resume formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Although the White House has not explicitly stated its intention to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Washington did not bar any country from doing so itself. If this is the international trend, Taiwan should take the initiative and express its willingness to establish diplomatic relations with others.
It is fair to say that the current global situation is one of inertia caused by former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger since 1972. A close look at Kissinger’s approach to China while considering the subjective and objective circumstances that he was in would reveal how different the world is now. The international community and global politics have changed dramatically.
The government should plan ahead, openly seeking countries that are willing to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The huge progress that Taiwan made after its democratization should be showcased as a part of human civilization, and the benefits that Taiwan can contribute to the world should all be listed.
Would it not be a proactive project that is also highly constructive? A great amount of money need not be spent hosting international sports events and grand expositions. If Taiwan shows its sincerity and expresses its profound interest in building ties with others, more countries will be keen to establish diplomatic relations.
Roads are created by human beings. If a road leads to a dead end, one can search for a new one. This, after all, is the only way through which civilization and progress are made.
Joshua Tin is an economist.
Translated by Liu Yi-hung
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