U. S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Beijing next month for a summit, where China is expected to focus on the topic of “Taiwan independence. “
Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, has a complex history. It has been inhabited by indigenous people for thousands of years and was briefly ruled by the Dutch and Spanish in the 1600s. The Qing dynasty incorporated Taiwan into Fujian province in 1684 and recognized it as a separate province in 1885. After the Qing lost the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan became a colony of Japan in 1895. In 1945, it was handed over to the Republic of China (ROC) following World War II. In 1949, the ROC government fled to Taiwan after being defeated by the Communist forces led by Mao Zedong, who established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and claimed it as the legitimate government for all of China, including Taiwan.
In terms of international status, the ROC in Taipei once claimed legitimacy but lost its UN seat to the PRC in 1971. Currently, only 12 countries maintain formal ties with Taiwan, mainly small nations. Major Western countries support Taiwan unofficially and recognize its passport, allowing Taiwanese citizens to travel freely. The U. S. severed official ties with Taiwan in 1979 but is legally obligated to provide the island with defensive support, while officially adhering to a “One China” policy that doesn’t take a stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty. China has stated it will not renounce force in asserting control over Taiwan and offers a “one country, two systems” model; however, this is widely rejected by Taiwan’s major political parties.
Taiwan operates with de facto independence, having its military, government, and currency, although most countries do not formally recognize this status. Taiwan’s government claims the ROC is a sovereign state and that the PRC has no representation rights, as it has never governed Taiwan.
A formal declaration of “Republic of Taiwan” would be challenging, needing a constitutional amendment and a referendum with significant legislative approval. Currently, there is a balance in the legislature between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT). The DPP has refrained from pursuing constitutional changes, while the KMT opposes altering the ROC’s name.
President Lai Ching-te has faced criticism from China, which views him as a separatist. He has indicated that both the ROC and the PRC should not be seen as subordinate to one another. Additionally, in 2005, China enacted the Anti-Secession Law, allowing military action if Taiwan declares independence, though the law lacks specific details.
With information from Reuters
