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| President Tsai Ing-wen; Source: Chan Kwok Shing / Sopa Images / Zuma Press |
On Saturday, January 12, 2020, President Tsai Ing-wen won the presidential re-election in Taiwan with more than 57% of the vote. It was rumored that Beijing had interfered in the election by pressuring voters to vote for Han Kuo-yu of the KMT Party, who had close relations with Beijing; despite the opposition against her, Tsai won with 8 million votes. Han, who earned 5.5 million votes, wanted to improve relations with China. Tsai, after winning, announced that she is willing to work with China, but says that China must honor the Taiwanese people. Tsai stands as the Taiwanese democratic figure fighting against the Communist Party. China’s President Xi Jinping recognizes Taiwan as part of China and is trying to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control, which the Communist Party has been trying to do since taking over China and forcing the Nationalists and Chiang Kai-shek to retreat to Taiwan in 1949.
Discussion Questions:
- Should the Taiwanese people support relations with China, despite knowing about China’s urgency to control Taiwan?
- Should other countries get involved in the Taiwan - China territory argument, knowing that such a decision would support one country and not the other?
- Is it wrong of China to use aggressive measures such as interfering in Taiwan’s election to gain control of what they believe is rightfully theirs?
Sources:
I think that other countries would only make the problem worse. Not only would it make bad diplomatic relations between the country they don't side with, it could invite even more countries to become involved in this problem, making it a global conflict. I also think it is wrong of China for using aggressive measures. Yes, their motives are understandable, but their actions only made it harder for the Taiwanese people to want to become apart of China again. I believe China should listen to what the Taiwanese want and make compromises. Force and aggression is never the right way to go about things.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that other countries siding with one country over the other would make it worse, I would think that not siding with one country would be impossible due to having to make various international relation decisions. Most of the countries in the world side with China in the thought that Taiwan is simply a province of China, in order to not upset China, who has powerful influence in the world economy. Even the UN sides with China and does not recognize Taiwan as a country.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wrong of China to use aggressive measures such as interfering in Taiwan's election to gain control of what they believe is "rightfully theirs." China should respect Taiwan as a nation and allow it to become independent. Taiwan has its own distinct dialect, culture, and society.Many living in Taiwan also feel distinctly "Taiwanese" and do not identify as Chinese at all.
ReplyDeleteI think it was wrong of China to interfere in something as big and as personal to Taiwan as an election. It is China's right to believe that it is entitled to Taiwan, however it is not their right to try and take it away using such aggressive measures. It was inappropriate to take part in the altering of something like an election that affects Taiwan and its people's immediate future, whereas it does not affect their's. Taking a slower and more subtle approach to the issue (although I realize this may be less effective), such as proposing negotiation rather than forcing their way into something that they should not have been a part of, would have made for a more peaceful and less angry resolution to the issue.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is wrong for China to interfere in the democratic elections of another country that they do not own at all. Regarding the issue of supporting Taiwan in its conflict with China, the U.S. would inevitably be pulled in. As they are already involved in the region (specifically the South China Sea) as well as the fact that Taiwan is allied with the U.S. Although the U.S. doesn't have formal ties with Taiwan, it is bound by law to provide Taiwan with defensive measures as well as lots of arms. And despite Trump's usual cold stance on diplomatic relations, the Washington Post reports Trump as the most pro-Taiwan president in U.S. history. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, current president Tsai Ing-win has rejected negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party as she has declared that the "one country, two systems" framework is unacceptable and invisibilizes Taiwanese independence. This means that negotiations are off the table and the only way for Taiwan to fend off China is to bolster its own defense.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wrong that China interfered with the Taiwan elections. Her declaration that she was willing to work with China I think is a good idea because Taiwan's economy could potentially become better if they allow more business to go in. However, her declaration could cause China to further pressure Taiwan into becoming a part of China since they have such a large influence worldwide.
ReplyDeleteThe Taiwanese people should not support such relations, as China has too much of an ulterior motive to try to pressure them into becoming a part of China; their potential interference in the election also should raise more suspicion among the Taiwanese people that the other country would be willing to work with them without attempting to take over. It is great that despite the unfolding events, President Tsai In-wen won and does not want Taiwan to be a part of China; however, it may serve as a boiling pot for a war, where China starts to illegally use force against her to make Taiwan submit. If this occurs, then by United States’ policy, as well as how the UN works, a number of other countries will have to bear arms to protect the Taiwanese’s right to independence. Thus, China is unlikely to use obvious aggression, but rather more back-handed methods, which need to be looked out for in the coming years.
ReplyDelete