Taiwan Squeezed as US and China Negotiate

The issue of Taiwan has been a thorny one since the Kuomintang’s relocation from mainland China in 1949. A sense of irredentism has been present on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, though now it persists predominantly on the mainland. The surge in China-US relations in recent years has complicated the Taiwan question even more. Though Taiwan has depended on deals with the US military in the past, it may no longer be able to do so. The US’s global interests – whether in Iran, Darfur, or elsewhere – depend on China’s diplomatic support, and demand that the US placate China’s diplomatic wishes. Those wishes, it seems, are for increased Chinese military presence along the Taiwan Strait and a decreased arms trade with Taiwan. The interdependencies of Chinese and American economies and political spheres are reflected in the change in US diplomacy on Taiwan. As those interdependencies deepen, Taiwan will undoubtedly feel more “squeezed” and pushed to take aggressive action such as next years referendum on an official name change to Taiwan and an application for UN membership. If it passes, China’s dedication to regaining Taiwan will be tested, as will the US’s diplomatic muscle. – YaleGlobal