Topics Covered: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
China- Taiwan relations
What to study?
For Prelims and Mains: Taiwan- administration, relations with China, One Nations Two Systems policy, concerns and international support for Taiwan’s independence.
Context: US lawmakers have written to over 60 nations to garner their support towards the inclusion of Taiwan in the World Health Organisation (WHO).
These include Germany, Thailand, Canada, Britain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
What’s the issue?
To this date, Taiwan is not a part of the WHO owing to objections from China which calls the nation a part of its own. However, that has not deterred Taiwan from seeking to join a ministerial meeting of WHO’s decision-making body, the World Health Assembly (WHA). The meeting is set to be held in the coming days of this month.
China- Taiwan relations- Background:
China has claimed Taiwan through its “one China” policy since the Chinese civil war forced the defeated Kuomintang, or Nationalist, to flee to the island in 1949 and has vowed to bring it under Beijing’s rule, by force if necessary.
- China is Taiwan’s top trading partner, with trade totaling $226 billion in 2018. Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with China.
- While Taiwan is self-governed and de facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland.
- Under the “one country, two systems” formula, Taiwan would have the right to run its own affairs; a similar arrangement is used in Hong Kong.
- Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Asian Development Bank under various names.
One-China policy:
The One China policy is the recognition in the US of the long-held position in Beijing that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of that.
- Any country wishing to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing must acknowledge there is only “One China” and sever all formal ties with Taiwan.
- As a part of the policy, Washington maintains a robust, non-official relationship with Taiwan, including continued arms sales to the island.
- The One China policy is also different from the “One China principle”, which is the principle that insists both Taiwan and mainland China are inalienable parts of a single “China”.
Indo- Taiwan relations:
Although they do not have formal diplomatic ties, Taiwan and India have been cooperating in various fields.
India has refused to endorse the “one-China” policy since 2010.
InstaThink:
Prelims Link:
- Location of Taiwan and its historical background.
- Regions being administered by China under One China policy.
- Is Taiwan represented at WHO and the United Nations?
- Countries in South China Sea.
- Qing dynasty.
Mains Link:
Write a note on India- Taiwan bilateral relations.
Sources: the Hindu.
