Causes Of The Growing Tension Between China and Taiwan

The tension between China (PRC) and Taiwan is one of the most long-standing and complex issues in international politics. The conflict dates back to the Chinese Civil War, which ended in 1949 with the Communist Party taking control of mainland China and the Nationalist Party retreating to Taiwan. Since then, China has claimed it's sovereignty over Taiwan, while Taiwan has maintained its independence as a separate entity. The issues of Taiwan's status and the tensions between the two regions have risen in recent years. In this blog we will explore very briefly the historical, political, and economic factors contributing to the conflict.

Historical Context:

To understand the current tensions between China and Taiwan, it is important to look at the historical context of the conflict. The roots of the conflict lie in the Chinese Civil War, which lasted from 1927 to 1949 between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party Kuomintang (KMT) fought for control of China. In 1949, the Communist Party emerged victorious, and the Nationalist Kuomintang party (KMT) was driven away from Chinese mainland. But KMT somehow managed to gain the control over Taiwan. The CPC in China established the People's Republic of China (PRC), while the Nationalist Party (KMT) continued to govern Taiwan under the name of the Republic of China (ROC).

From this period , the PRC claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and sought to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, however, maintained its independence and became a democratic country with a thriving economy. In the 1970s, the United States recognized the PRC and also developed diplomatic ties with Taiwan simultaneously. Since then, most countries in the global have followed this same diplomatic suit. The United States now becomes the parental defence partner of Taiwan and has continued to provide modern military equipments and strategic support to the island. The growing influence of USA over Taiwan has always been a geopolitical concern for PRC, which escalates the tension even further.

Political Factors:

The political factors contributing to the conflict between China and Taiwan are complex and multifaceted. One major issue is the question of sovereignty. China claims that Taiwan is a part of its territory and ready to use military action to bring the island under its control if necessary. Taiwan, on the other hand, maintains its independence and has a separate government, economy, as well as military supported by USA and NATO partners.

In recent years, the political situation in Taiwan has become more complicated due to the rise of pro-independence sentiment. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which advocates for the complete independence of Taiwan from PRC, won the presidential election in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. This has increased the tensions between these two. Taiwan's move towards independence is a threat to Chinese territorial integrity.Taiwan's increasing efforts to attain it's separate identity and international recognition have angered China. China has initiated diplomatic campaigns to isolate Taiwan internationally. China has also started to raise its military presence in the region and has been conducting military exercises in Taiwan Straight and keeps on violating the air space of Taiwan regularly. 

Economic Factors:

The economic factors have also played a significant role in the conflict between China and Taiwan. Taiwan is a major economic power in the region, with a thriving technology industry and strong trade ties with other countries. China is also a major economic power, and the two regions have close economic ties.

Recently the economic relationship between China and Taiwan has become complicated by political tensions. China has used its economic leverage to pressure Taiwan by restricting trade and tourism to the island. In response, Taiwan has started diversifying its trade relationships to other states specially in Southeast Asia and reducing its economic dependence on China.

In conclusion, the issue of China and Taiwan is tense and very unstable. China continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan and has increased its military presence in the region. On the other hand, Taiwan has been making efforts to attain its separate identity and international recognition. As the United States has also become more involved in it, this matter become a new hotspot for a global conflict. The future scenarios depend on the actions of both sides and the response of international community's to resolve the tension.