China recently begun its big and expanded navy and air force drills around Taiwan and
Taiwan’s neighbouring islands, this move of china had received global notice and caused
concerns. Such exercises that started on the October 14, 2024 have been described to as a
warning regarding Taiwan independence by China’s Defence Ministry. The drills are
response of the Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s decision to reject Beijing demands for
Taiwan to refer to itself as part of the People’s Republic of China.
Background and Context
China is conducting “Joint Sword-2024B” near the Taiwan. The exercises involve practically
all forms of military equipment, including as warships, submarines, fighter aircraft, and
bombers. The PLA Eastern Theater Command claimed the drills were to dissuade separatist
elements and safeguard the sovereignty and unity of the state.
Taiwan's Response
The moves have been denounced by Taipei’s Defence Ministry which has indicated that its
forces are ready for a conflict. During the Taiwan’s National Day, the president Lai Ching-te
said that China has no right to speak for Taiwan and that he would prevent Taiwan’s
annexation or encroachment of its borders. The Presidential Office of Taiwan has asked
China to avoid military exercises that would result to complacency of the Asia Pacific region.
International Reactions
The large military drills have been considered as provocative by the Global powers especially
the partners of Taiwan and a handful of Asian countries. The USA, Japan and other countries
concerned with the present development have endorsed Taiwan and advocated for calm
approach on the matter. The United Nations and other organizations have urged on the two
factions in the dispute to avoid any activity that may spark future conflict.
Strategic Implications
The exercises indicate Beijing’s strengthened military might and its determination to impose
control over Taiwan. The drill symbolizes a key time in the current state of conflict in the
region and highlights the importance for a balance of power. The fact is that the situation is
heating up with the increasing presence of modern Chinese military systems in the Taiwan
Strait these days, thus diplomatic measures must be taken.
Ethical and humanitarian considerations
The huge military training related ethical and humanitarian issues particularly concerning
possible impacts on civilians. The challenges of this element are the danger of destroying
facilities and the emotional state of persons living in the zones of possible hostilities.
China’s naval and Air Force manoeuvres near the Taiwan and the adjacent islands have
established the current tensions and disputes. International reaction and the foreign policies
of China and Taiwan will be the critical variables in the possibility of prolonged stability in
the region. For the problem to be resolved, everyone has to sit and talk it out and find
solutions to avoid rising conflicts in the country.
Is Taiwan a part of China?
Taiwan exists as an autonomous administration with an independent government and its
own constitution. Taiwan, however, is regarded as a province of the People's Republic of
China (PRC), which claims Taiwan as its own. This argument presumed based on material
such historical events as civil war in china and the Taiwan government’s evacuation to the
island in 1949.
In an international perspective it is more complex. Even though Taiwan now maintains
formal diplomatic relationships with only a handful of nations today, the island has
unofficial links with several countries including United States. On this regard the U.S. and
other countries encourage Taiwan to join International organizations and also foster cross-
strait relations peaceful discussion. Taiwan has its own political leadership yet China has not
acknowledged Taiwan’s independence and still claims it as its territory. People around the
world are still divided whether to accept Taiwan as an independent country or whether to
support the One China policy.
The History of China-Taiwan Relations
It has a complex relation. These two entities have interacted in a civil war political climate
and indeed ideological conflict throughout decades.
Early History and the Qing Dynasty
It is an island situated near the south east part of china. The island is also home to different
indigenous peoples for many years and was eventually seized by the Qing Dynasty in the 17th
century. It is also crucial to note that during this period Taiwan is still a peripheral area of
the Qing empire, a marginal frontiersman community effectively only partially included into
the empires’ bureaucratic structure.
The Chinese Civil War and the Split
The beginnings of today’s Chinese-Taiwan conflict must be related with the Civil War in
China, which started in the late 1920s and lasted into 1949. The civil battle was between the
Kuomintang or KMT led by Chiang Kai-shek and the second party, the CCP led by Mao
Zedong. The civil war was distinguished by a fight between the Nationalists, who were
vanquished by the Communists, ending in the foundation of the People's Republic of China
(PRC) on the mainland in 1949.
The Republic of China in Taiwan
After their loss, the Nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan where they set up a government
in exile calling itself the Republic of China. Taiwan was ruled by martial law until the late
1980s, during the period when the KMT persisted in its claim to be China's legitimate
government. The ROC remained continues to be officially accepted by many nations of the
western world as geographically representing China until the 1970s.
The Shift towards Democracy
Special mention should be made of the fact that in the late 1980s – early 1990s a political
system change occurred in Taiwan, shifting from authoritarian to a multi-party democracy.
It was also called the ‘Taiwan Miracle’ during the course of which the island experienced
enhanced economic development as well as liberal democracy. During this period Taiwanese
independence party known as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) started emerging.
Cross strait relations and one China policy
Sino-Taiwanese relations can be labelled as: political, economic and military relations which
have been characterized with some difficulties. China believes in one china policy. According
to it Taiwan is an integral part of china. This policy has been one in which Taiwan disagrees
with due to different reasons claiming to be a different country with its own government and
constitution.
Key Events and Tensions
Over the years, several key events have shaped China-Taiwan relations:
- 1979: The United States changed the recognition of the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China and thus recognised the PRC as the only legitimate government of china.
- 1992 Consensus: China and Taiwan officials implicitly agreed that there exists a “one China” policy, but this crafted to allow for separate implementation in the two regions.
- 2000: In 2000 the Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Shui-bian was elected as the first non-Kuomintang president of Taiwan opening up a new pro-independence period.
- 2016: Relations with China worsened when the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen became president.
- 2024: There has been an enhancement of military drills and political inflow from china hence increasing tensions.
Current Scenario
The contemporary relation between China and Taiwan continues to be hostile; both side carry out military operations and diplomatic strategies. China still does this while Taiwan refuses to accept the annexation asserting its independence and democracy. The world especially the America has the keystone role to ensure that there is order and no war breaks in the region.
China Taiwan relations remain unpredictable with some of the key hot buttons being a
military confrontation, economic pressure and diplomatic pressure. The solution for this
problem will involve politically sensitive analysis and cooperation, and understanding of the
circumstances and respect for the policy of non-violence.
As it stands, political relations between China and Taiwan are rather tense and there can be
witnessed rising military rhetoric. It has been getting worst since October, 2024 when China
staged live military drills around Taiwan after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s remarks that
Beijing saw as separatist.
The response from the Taiwan government has been Assertive, as its Defence Ministry said
that it is ready to respond to any threat to the sovereignty of Taiwan. Additionally, it has
expelled Chinese maritime surveillance vessels from Taiwan's forbidden waters close to the
Matsu Islands. This has fuelled the already sour relations between the two sides in a worse
way.
Globally the state has attracted much attention and concern. The United States and its allies
have voiced support of Taiwan and urged both parties to seek to solve the stand-off
peacefully. Unofficial relations between the United States and Taiwan are close, for example,
based on an extensive commercial, economic and personnel relationship. Nonetheless, China
regards any support to the Taiwan regime as a hostile interference in China’s internal affairs
asserting that it expects to ‘unify’ Taiwan with the mainland at some point – peacefully if
possible, but militarily in the worst-case scenario.
They stated that the political structure of Taiwan has also led to the increased tensions. The
DPP which supports the independence has been in power since 2016, its candidate Tsai Ing-
wen goes for a third term in 2024. This has rendered Taiwan to be more pressured politically
and especially militarily by China because of the DPP’s stand it has formed was perceived as
a threat to China’s sovereignty claims.
Today, China-Taiwan relation as a stand of deterrence diplomacy with an element of latent
hostility not excluding armed conflict. The two parties keep the military build-up and
political manoeuvres, the world watches and waits anxiously, waiting for the worst not to
happen. This is a challenge for the future of these relations which will largely depend on the
capacity of this or that party to somehow choose the strategy of interaction at least in the
most conflict -productive spheres of cooperation.