Tension Between China and Taiwan; a Critical Overview of History

The rise of tension between China and Taiwan in recent time is evident as China is demonstrating its power near Taiwanese water and airspace through its tanks, ballistic missiles and fighter jets.

China has also challenged America which can absolutely be declared as playing with the fire. Now American interference in China Taiwan issue has further added fuel to the fire as China called it extremely dangerous.

This emerging conflict has originated many questions regarding past and possibilities in future like; what is obvious and unseen reason of this clash? Is this a conflict of communism and democracy ? Is Taiwan going to be next Ukraine?

Taiwan is a small island that has been mastered by many parties in different eras like Dutch in 17th century ,Qing dynasty till 1895 and post Japan till 1945. After 2nd world war, world order changed and ideological war began.

History says, in 1949 civil war erupting in China as communism was growing under the leadership of Mao so it was the war between the government of Republic of China (ROC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These communist forces gained control of China and established the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

China’s old government fled to Taiwan and astonishingly this small island today claims to be true China as the original government of China is Taiwanese government. China claims that Taiwan is a part of it and has declared this issue as their internal matter, they have further proclaimed its reunification.

At the present time, there are only 15 countries who accept Taiwan as a separate sovereign state, even America doesn’t consider Taiwan as a separate state. But Taiwan is an unofficial ally of America as it is a practicing democracy, it was also an ally of America in the cold war.

America has clearly stated that it will not remain silent if China challenges the sovereignty of Taiwan but the triggering point here is that Ukraine was also an ally of America, when Russia invaded Ukraine it was expected that all European countries and America will come forward but they restrained themselves as both parties are nuclear powers.

This is also an irrevocable fact that Taiwan is more important for America than Ukraine, hidden interests are prevailing on both sides. China is biggest manufacturing country and on the basis of its exports, surely it can be a superpower in 2022. To carry out exports more efficiently, China needs direct access to Pacific ocean which can be possible through Taiwan, further if China becomes successful in establishing a military base in Taiwan, it can be a huge hole in America’s defense.

Taiwan tech industry is even bigger than China’s industry. There are huge R&D and chip manufacturing industries in Taiwan that provide these chip to big companies like Apple and Intel. By occupying them China can destroy American tech industry. Keeping in view these interests, it is not wrong to say that America can not afford silence on Taiwan issue.

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has huge impact in this scenario as China has launched military exercise and targeted operations following this. Is tension spiking on both sides is signaling towards World War 3? but only time can tell this.