Communist Chinese Promises and Threats to the Republic of China on Taiwan

Communist China has again been threatening Taiwan with military incursions and an explicit threat to use force to reunify it with mainland China. The island of Taiwan and its offshore islands, and the coastal island groups of Quemoy and Matsu, as well as part of the disputed Spratly Islands constitute the Republic of China, which is the remnant of the republican Chinese State taken over by the Communists in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War. The Republic of China’s parliamentary government, along with many Chinese refugees, re-located to Taiwan and remained in power as a government-in-exile until transitioning to a fully participatory liberal representative parliamentary republic in 1990. Taiwan has been peaceful, free and prosperous. Communist China’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province, are based solely on its victory in the civil war 73 years ago and its international diplomatic recognition, but its victory was incomplete, leaving the de jure Chinese government in power in Taiwan and the other islands. The Chinese Communist Party, which effectively rules mainland China as a one-party state, has never subjected itself to free and fair elections and tolerates no dissent. Around a dozen foreign States, including the Holy See, recognize the Republic of China on Taiwan as the legitimate Chinese government. The United States recognized Communist China in 1971, but, like many foreign States that also recognize Peking, maintains official, but non-diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as governed by a 1979 federal law that also pledges the U.S. to defend Taiwan. As I have posted, Communist China pressures States to recognize it in favor of Taiwan or even not to maintain non-diplomatic relations that refer to Taiwan, as if the island is independent. Peking also pressures international organizations not to include Taiwan. Communist China recently offered its “one country, two systems” regime for Taiwan, as it had for the former British territory of Hong Kong in 1997 and the former Portuguese territory of Macao in 1999, but, as I have been posting, has violated its promises of autonomy and political liberty for those territories. Communist China had also conquered Tibet in 1950, which it also represses. The Taiwanese are therefore rightly skeptical of Peking’s promises. The United States should continue to engage with the Republic of China and support Taiwan militarily enough to deter Communist Chinese aggression. Foreign States should continue to recognize the Republic of China or maintain or even upgrade their relations with Taiwan. The international community should support freedom and representative government and oppose threats of violence by Communist China.