The escalating rivalry between the United States and China, specifically in relation to Taiwan, is a testament to the complex dynamics in the global political landscape. The catalyst for these tense relations recently manifested when the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States visited Taiwan, marking it as the highest level American official’s visit since 1997, thereby considerably elevating tensions between the US and China.
Understanding the Taiwan-China Contention
Situated approximately 160 km off the coast of southeastern China, Taiwan lies opposite the Chinese cities of Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen. Historically, Taiwan was under the administration of the Qing imperial dynasty until 1895, when control was ceded to Japan. However, post World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese hands.
In 1949, following the Communist-lead victory in mainland China’s civil war, Chiang Kai-shek, the nationalist Kuomintang party leader, fled to Taiwan. Here, he established the government of the Republic of China (ROC), serving as President until 1975. Concurrently, the Communist Party of China (CPC) formed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland. This led to a dichotomy with the PRC viewing Taiwan as a renegade province that is expected to reintegrate into the mainland, preferably through peaceful means.
Despite the political discord, the present scenario witnesses economic ties between China and Taiwan. There are substantial numbers of migrants from Taiwan working in China, and notable Chinese investments can be observed in Taiwan.
The US Outlook on Taiwan
The United States has upheld a ‘One China’ policy since the 1970s, recognizing Taiwan as part of China. This signifies that any nations wishing to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC must sever links with the ROC. It denotes that the communist government in mainland China is the legitimate representative and Taiwan is an errant segment of it. Nonetheless, the US maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan, offering support in defending the island against external aggression by supplying military equipment and intelligence.
China’s concern with the recent US visit lies in it undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. From China’s perspective, any American official’s presence in Taiwan could potentially encourage Taiwan’s independence by signaling US support towards it.
India’s Stance on Taiwan
In line with the US stance, India also adheres to the One China Policy, thus lacking formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Despite this, India does maintain an office in Taipei for diplomatic functions, headed by a senior diplomat under the India-Taipei Association (ITA). Likewise, Taiwan established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi. This relationship primarily focuses on trade, commerce, culture, and education.
In response to China’s aggressive actions in Galwan recently, India has strengthened its ties with Taiwan. This has led to an increase in diplomatic exchanges between the two countries.
The Importance of Taiwan
Taiwan’s significance extends beyond geographical and political considerations, particularly in the technology landscape. Semiconductors, critical components in various electronic devices, from computers and smartphones to brake sensors in cars, are predominantly manufactured in Taiwan. The country dominated the global semiconductor revenue last year, accounting for more than 60% of the total.
The way forward suggests that India should reevaluate its One China Policy and distinguish its relationship with mainland China from that with Taiwan. Moreover, India should aim to bolster its security and economic ties with Taiwan, particularly in light of China’s increased involvement in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) via its ambitious China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
