What do China's latest military drills around Taiwan mean for the region? | Inside Story

China has escalated the scale of its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait over the past two years, while the United States has increased its rhetoric in support of the island.
Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
The Democratic Progressive Party, which has championed a separate Taiwanese identity, has secured a third presidential term.
President Lai Ching-te said in his inauguration speech that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation.
Beijing has responded angrily with the latest round of military drills.
So where does China go from here? And how far is the US willing to go in support of Taiwan?

Presenter: Tom McRae

Guests:
Fang-yu Chen - Assistant professor of political science at Soochow University, Taiwan

Victor Gao - Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization

Tomohiko Taniguchi - Special adviser at the Fujitsu Future Studies Centre. He advised Japan's cabinet during Shinzo Abe's administration

#China #Taiwan #ChinaTaiwanTensions #AlJazeeraEnglish

[xgguo]

The fact is that both US and Japan do not recognize Taiwan as a country and no offiical foreign relationship with so called Taiwan government.
It is a very complicated issue but basic facts are quite clear.
US is using Taiwan as a tool for maintaining its influence in APAC. The key is US vs China, not Japan, or Taiwan itself.

[PlaYer-snor]

1) In 1894, Japan invaded China and Korea, the Qing govt was defeated and signed the [Treaty of Shimonoseki] to cede Taiwan Island to Japan.

2) During the WW2, at the Cairo Conference held in 1943, China asked the transfer of Taiwan's sovereignty back to China after the war. This content was included in the [Cairo Declaration] and later reiterated in the [Potsdam Proclamation] that it should be implemented.

3) In 14 Aug & 2 Sept 1945, the Emperor and govt of Japan issued the [End War Edict] and [Japanese Instrument of Surrender], Japan surrendered and accepted the [Potsdam Proclamation]. Japanese troops in Taiwan surrendered to KMT General CKS and Taiwan re-entered the territory of the Republic of China (ROC).

4) Soon after that China civil war broke out in between KMT and CCP, the KMT was defeated and fled to Taiwan. However, due to US intervention, the CCP without strong navy at that time has no ability to unify Taiwan. The CCP then established the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. The civil war continues.

5) In 1971, UN Resolution No. 2758 ruled that the PRC had obtained the representation rights and all legal rights originally owned by the ROC in the UN. That means the PRC is China’s only legal govt under international law and is recognized by 181 countries around the world, including the USA.

"The USA recognizes the Government of the PRC as the sole legal Government of China."
"The USA acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China."
Joint Cummunique on the Establishment of Diplomatic relations between the PRC and the USA in 1979.

Please refer to President Jimmy Carter's Speech on Relations with China.

6) Therefore, according to international law, international reality, and the wishes of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, Taiwan should return to PRC and the PRC have every rights to protect it's sovereign integrity.

[shojunichi]

That Japanese is a dangerous man, Japan lost to the previous government of China in WW2, not the current government. This means if a country's government changed, does the country tear all legal binding documents to pieces? Imagine Germany's government not accepting the 1945 surrender, calling it the 'previous' government agreement. The current government has never signed those documents. Stupidity to the max.

[lsvaralokasf]

Taiwan is NOT a country, the UN doesn’t recognise Taiwan as a country nor Japan nor the US, japan and the US do not have embassy in Taiwan but they do in Beijing, this fact tells loudly that Japan and the US officially recognised Taiwan as part of China, period.
China’s military action in Taiwan is not an “invasion” because Taiwan is the land part of China.
The speaker “professor” from Taipei is trying to change the fact and his argument is so generic and lame.
“Be prepared” Victor Gao said, that’s not a bluff.

[fatdoi]

i don't know what's that japanese guy doing here.... his country lost the war and returned the occupied lands so there's nothing to do with his country

[KittyKittyCat-vfzd]

Lai's sons and daughters are living in USA not fighting for democracy in Taiwan. That's all you need to know about him.

[titanxie]

“Japan lost the war to China’s previous government, not to the current government?” Wow that is the most dangerous comment I have heard. Imagine if Germany said it, what would be the reactions among European countries including Russia. lol

[tedwong]

Lai didnt want to stay status quo, he claimed taiwan independence in his inaguration speech. You cant act tough and as a victim at the same time

[kansax]

US Recognizes Taiwan separatists, but not Donetsk & Luhansk separatists. Hypocrisy.

[Shadowless_Kick]

Why did you invite this Japanese scholar? it is none of Japan’s business

[supervince]

To the Japanese guy on the show, we support independence of Okinawa!

[Changchar]

I just want to point out two facts:
1. The Taiwan everyone is referring to here has a legal name called the Republic of China (ROC)
2. The constitution of ROC states that ROC is the rightful government of the entirety of China including Mainland China. And in “Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area” it stated many times “Prior to the unification of our country…”

[rayzhong]

Lai was literally declaring taiwan's independence in his inaguration speech. At this point, I am afriaid that a war is eventually inevitable.

[collinszheng]

Applause to Victor Gao for his calm and firm statement on Taiwan issue. The unification of Taiwan has been there for 75 years after china civil war not a new one. Key role of Taiwan is between China and US, not Taiwan nor Japan which are just vassals of US. Anchor should invite someone from US to speak on the matter.

[jwbuqqb]

Best part was when Mr. Gao said China invading Taiwan was like the the Union invading the Confederate States of America. Amazing, 10/10

[jrkr]

Don't comment like an idiot before knowing about Taiwan's Constitution

Taiwan's Constitution states that most of China's mainland provinces belong to Taiwan including Beijing and Shanghai....

[jaybleu]

Not only was Taniguchi's deliberate misinterpretation of the Japanese unconditional surrender was only to the then ruling ROC but not the PRC foolish, it is also extremely dangerous. This is how wars get started, Blatant denial of a signed international document.

[Game_Changer_]

Victor Gao owned this panel discussion, Japan has no right to intervene, Taiwan has been part of China for as long as we could remember

[yeokkhunleow]

The body language & demeaning gestures of the Taiwanese speaker is like that of an agitated & spoiled schoolboy.

[Zuleika_]

I just wanna know how much the Americans have made with those wars going on around the world