• Chinese Defence Minister meets U.S. counterpart, says Beijing will destroy ‘Taiwan independence’ plot.
• China and Taiwan separated amid civil war in 1949 and China considers Taiwan part of its territory to be taken control of by force if necessary.
• But Taiwan’s leaders say that Taiwan is a sovereign state.
• After decades of hostile intentions and angry rhetoric, relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s.
• China put forward a formula, known as “one country, two systems”, under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification.
• In Taiwan, the offer was rejected, but the government did relax rules on visits to and investment in China.
• There were also limited talks between the two sides’ unofficial representatives, though Beijing’s insistence that Taiwan’s Republic of China (ROC) government is illegitimate prevented government-to-government contact.
• China’s implementation of a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020 was seen by many as yet another sign that Beijing was becoming significantly more assertive in the region.
• Taiwan has full membership in 38 intergovernmental organizations and their subsidiary bodies, including the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asian Development Bank and Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
• Taiwan maintains diplomatic connections with 15 countries and business relationships with a number of others, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and New Zealand.

India’s Stand on the Issue:

• Since 1949, India has accepted the “One China” policy that accepts Taiwan and Tibet as part of China.
• However, India uses the policy to make a diplomatic point, i.e., if India believes in “One China” policy, China should also believe in a “One India” policy.
• India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations but since 1995, both sides have maintained representative offices in each other’s capitals that function as de facto embassies.

Model Question :

Q. Which of the following countries borders with South China Sea?

1. Taiwan
2. Philippines
3. Vietnam
4. Brunei
5. Cambodia

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer : B

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