China Reviewing Policies Toward Taiwan

In a departure from decades of policy, the People?s Republic of China is reportedly softening its stance toward the island of Taiwan. Taiwan is considered by Beijing to be a part of China, Nationalist Chinese leaders fled there when the Communists took over China in the middle of the twentieth century and have since created a sprawling and successful island nation-state. Both China and Taiwan recently have worked toward a warming of ties, inking an agreement to resume direct airline service between the island and the Chinese mainland for the first time since 1949, when they were cut due to China?s civil war.

The United States considers Taiwan to be nominally a part of China, yet at the same time has supported the island country?s de facto independence with political and military support. Up until the 1970s, Taiwan sat in the seat now held by the People?s Republic on the United Nations Security Council. Taiwan has been self-ruled since 1949, when the Nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek`s were defeated by the Communists led by Mao Zedong and fled across the strait, setting up a Chinese government-in-exile.

U.S. policy specifically states that America will come to the island?s defense in the event of a Chinese attack. If China?s position is indeed softening to accept the so-called status quo that implicitly recognizes Taiwan?s independence yet legally does not and calls for talks between Beijing and Taipei, then this would mean that China is inching closer to accepting the U.S.?s ?status quo? arrangement until further talks and/or reconciliation can occur.

                                 

Related News: