President of the United States, Joe BidenThis Saturday (01/13/2024) he reiterated his country's opposition to Taiwan's independence. William Loy of the ruling party won the presidential election The Asian nation, de facto independent but considered part of its territory by China, wants to reunify even through the use of force.
When asked by reporters in Washington about the results of the election in Taiwan, he said, “We do not support the independence of the region,” in which Lai won with 40.2 percent of the vote. Biden's statements came hours after the secretary of state's. Anthony BlinkenLai congratulates him on his success.
In a statement, Blinken noted that the United States is committed to “peace and stability” in the region and looks forward to working with Washington Law and “developing our long-standing unofficial relationship in line with the one-party principle.” “. Lai's victory appears to strengthen Taiwan's commitment to sovereignty, foreshadowing worsening tensions with the Chinese regime.
“Separatist Activities”
Blinken congratulated the Taiwanese people for “proving once again the solidity of their democratic system and their electoral process.” “The partnership between the American and Taiwanese peoples, rooted in democratic values, continues to expand and deepen through economic, cultural and people-to-people relations,” he added.
The Taiwan issue continues to be one of the main points of friction between China and the US, which, apart from being Taiwan's main arms supplier, could face the situation of having to defend the island in the event of a conflict. In the past, Lai has defined himself as a “practical worker for Taiwan's independence”, although he has not deemed it necessary to formally declare secession, arguing that it already functions as an independent state.
Taiwan – which the Chinese Nationalist Army retreated to after being defeated by Communist troops in a civil war – has been governed autonomously since 1949, although China claims sovereignty over the island, which it considers a rebel province. For this reason, after learning of the election result, Chen Binhua, the spokesperson of China's office in charge of relations with Taiwan, assured that the democratic election will not prevent the inevitable trend of reunification of the country. “Separatist activities” will not be tolerated.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, prompting all kinds of criticism from Taipei. What's wrong with Taiwan? Let's review history with these images.
Image: AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Recapture vs. liberation
After the end of World War II, the Communist Party led by Mao Zedong waged a fierce war against the leader of the Kuomintang (KMT), Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang took refuge with his forces on the island of Taiwan. For some time, Taiwan was the focus of the campaign. The Communist Party wanted to “liberate” the island, while the Kuomintang sought to “recapture the mainland.”
Image: AFP/Getty Images
Letters to “Comrades”.
In the 1950s, the Communist Party issued four “Messages to Chinese Comrades” in Taiwan, which are considered the basis of Beijing's policy on Taiwan. In these texts, China warns Taiwan against cooperating with the “imperialists” of the United States. Military clashes, essentially artillery attacks, are still recorded during these years.
Image: Imago/Zuma/Keystone
Beijing replaces Taiwan at UN
In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly declared the People's Republic of China as the sole legal representative of China. The decision removed the Republic of China (Taiwan) from all UN bodies. The picture shows the frustration of Taiwanese Foreign Minister Chau Shu-kai (right) and his ambassador Liu Chee.
Image: Imago/ZUMA/Keystone
The New Taiwan Policy
Beijing's fifth and final “message” to Taiwan was issued on January 1, 1979. Under the leadership of reformer Deng Xiaoping, the mainland ended military operations, announced the development of bilateral relations, and promised peaceful reunification. However, Beijing's right to represent China internationally has not been questioned.
A new orientation of Chinese policy toward Taiwan has come as Washington and Beijing draw closer. On January 1, 1979, the United States and China resumed diplomatic relations with Washington—under the leadership of Jimmy Carter—recognizing Beijing as the sole legitimate government in all of China. The US Embassy in Taiwan has become a cultural institution.
Image: AFP/AFP/Getty Images
“One China, Two Systems”
Even before meeting Carter, Deng Xiaoping had already introduced the “one country, two systems” policy, which would allow Taiwan to maintain its social structure even after eventual reunification. However, Taiwanese President Chiang Ching-kuo did not acknowledge the receipt. Instead, in 1987, he formulated the policy of “a better system for one China”.
Image: Image-Alliance/Everett Collection
Freedom movement
In 1986, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the main anti-Taiwanese movement, was founded. At a conference in 1991, the DPP endorsed a clause on independence that declared Taiwan a sovereign country and not part of China.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Yes
At unofficial talks held in Hong Kong in 1992, representatives from Taipei and Beijing reached a political agreement on the nature of their relations. Both sides agreed that it was one China. However, they had different views on what “One China” meant. A year later, chief negotiators Wang (left) and Koo met in Singapore.
Image: Imago/Xinhua
In a 1995 interview with DW, Taiwan's first democratically elected president, KMT leader Lee Teng-hui, said that all relations across the Taiwan Strait “must be defined as relations between states; at most, a special relationship between states.” This formulation was very close to the Declaration of Independence.
The DPP first won a presidential election in 2000, when Chen Shui-bian, a native of Taiwan with no ties to China, called for an understanding of “one state on each side”. This means Taiwan has nothing to do with China. In 2005, Beijing reacted with the Anti-Secession Law, which allows the use of military force in the event of Taiwan declaring independence.
Image: Image Alliance/AP Photo/Jerome Favre
“One China, Different Interpretations”
After losing the 2000 election, the KMT adopted a “1992 Consensus” wording change to the party constitution, calling for an understanding of “one China, different interpretations”. The 1992 consensus continues to be debated in Taiwan. Reason: The 1992 negotiators had no official position.
Image: Imago/ZumaPress
The Communist Party meets with the KMT
China has adopted the “1992 Consensus” as the political basis for its relations with Taiwan. In the first summit between the two sides since the Communists seized power in China, Hu Jintao (right) and Lian Zhan endorsed the “1992 Consensus” and the “One China” policy.
Image: Image-Alliance/DPA/M. Reynolds
“Address is correct”
After the KMT's Ma Ying-Jeou won the 2008 presidential election, the two sides continued to grow closer. In a 2009 interview with DW, he said, “The Taiwan Strait should be a place of peace and security. We are getting closer to that goal. Basically our direction is right.”
Image: GIO
After the 2016 election, when President Tsai Ing-wen came to power, the independence movement has been gaining strength. Tsai questioned the existence of the 1992 consensus and described her country's biggest challenge as “China's attempt to interfere in Taiwan's political and social development”.
