International Current Affairs-Taiwan China Dispute: An Overview, Background, Role of USA, Military Comparison (Urdu & English)
If you have interest in current affairs then this post of studysolutions.pk is for you. The dispute between China and Taiwan is one of the longest-running international disputes in the world. The two sides have been locked in a conflict over the political status of Taiwan since 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power in mainland China and the Nationalist Party (KMT) retreated to Taiwan.
Over the years the dispute has taken many forms including a civil war an international diplomatic struggle and an economic competition. In recent years however the dispute has largely been confined to the diplomatic arena as both sides have sought to avoid military conflict.
The roots of the dispute go back to the late 19th century when Taiwan was a colony of Japan. In 1945 at the end of World War II Japan surrendered Taiwan to China. However China soon descended into civil war and in 1949 the CCP emerged victorious. The KMT retreated to Taiwan where it established a government-in-exile.
What is China Taiwan Dispute?
The China–Taiwan dispute is a political conflict over the status of Taiwan that exists between the governments of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC). The PRC claims that the ROC is a province of China while the ROC claims that it is an independent state. The dispute has existed since 1949 when the two governments separated as a result of the Chinese Civil War and has been further complicated by military tensions rivalries between political parties and competing international recognition.
Will Taiwan be Taken Over by China?
No one can say for sure what the future holds but it seems unlikely that China will take over Taiwan any time soon. For one thing Taiwan is a democracy and China is an authoritarian regime. This means that the Taiwanese people would likely resist any attempt by the Chinese government to take control of the island. Additionally Taiwan has strong economic and military ties with the United States which would probably intervene if China tried to take over Taiwan by force.
Why Taiwan is Not Ready To Become The Part of China?
There are different reasons for this. First Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949 and its 23 million people have developed a strong sense of national identity during that time. Second Taiwan has a vibrant democracy while China is still an authoritarian state. This difference in political systems is a major barrier to unification. Third the economic gap between Taiwan and China is large and Taiwanese people fear that they would be worse off economically if they were absorbed into the much poorer mainland. Finally there is a significant military imbalance between the two sides with China having far more troops and weapons than Taiwan. This makes Taiwanese people fear that they would be unable to defend themselves against Chinese aggression if unification occurred.
What is One China Policy?
The One China Policy is the diplomatic acknowledgement of the Chinese government’s position that there is only one sovereign state under the name China as opposed to the existence of two states China and Taiwan. The policy is different from the “One China Principle” in that it acknowledges that there is only one China but does not state how China should be defined.
History of China Taiwan Dispute
The dispute between China and Taiwan is one that dates back to the Chinese Civil War. In 1949 the defeated Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan and set up a government there while the Communist Party took control of mainland China. Since then both sides have claimed to be the rightful rulers of all of China. The dispute has led to occasional military conflicts most notably in the First Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1954-1955 and the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. In recent years however tensions have eased somewhat with both sides engaging in economic and cultural exchanges.
Role of USA & EU in China Taiwan Dispute
The USA does not support Taiwan independence but it does support a peaceful resolution to the dispute between China and Taiwan. The USA also believes that the people of Taiwan should be able to determine their own future without interference from China. The USA has provided military support to Taiwan in the past and continues to sell weapons to Taiwan. The USA has also sent military ships to the region in order to deter China from using force against Taiwan. EU countries are also not ready to accept one China policy by Chinese government. China want to get back Taiwan just like Hong Kong but West, USA and even people of Taiwan are not ready for it. Taiwan is trying to increase its military power to counter any expected Chinse aggression in future.
Similarities & Differences Between China & Taiwan
China and Taiwan are two countries located in East Asia with a long shared history. Both countries were part of the Chinese empire until the 20th century when they split into separate political entities. China is a communist country while Taiwan is a democracy. Both countries have experienced rapid economic development in recent years and are now major regional powers. However there are still significant differences between them especially in terms of their political systems and international relations. China is a much larger country with a population of over 1.3 billion people while Taiwan has a population of around 23 million. Mandarin is the official language in both countries but Taiwanese also speaks Taiwanese Hakka and Hokkien. The currency in China is the Renminbi (RMB) and in Taiwan it is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$).
Ethnicity of China & Taiwan
The majority of the population in China and Taiwan is Han Chinese which is the largest ethnic group in the world. Other minority groups include Zhuang Manchu Hui Uighur and Miao. The Han Chinese have been the dominant group in China for centuries and their culture is often seen as synonymous with Chinese culture as a whole. Taiwan is also home to a large number of indigenous peoples who make up around 2% of the population. The most significant of these groups are the Atayal Bunun Amis and Paiwan. In short ethinically people of both these countries have same roots. The difference is in their political ideology. People of Taiwan are against one party rule and socialism.
Current Affairs-Present Situation of China Taiwan Dispute
Now lets discuss the most discussed current affairs related issue. The dispute between China and Taiwan is one of the most intractable and complex international conflicts in the world. The two sides have been locked in a stalemate for decades with neither side willing to make concessions. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Taiwan is a self-governing democracy while China is an authoritarian regime.
The conflict began in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of mainland China and declared it to be the legitimate government of all of China. The defeated Nationalist Party (KMT) led by General Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island of Taiwan and proclaimed Taipei to be the rightful capital of China. Since then both sides have claimed to be the legitimate government of all of China and both have asserted their right to rule over Taiwan.
The CCP has never renounced its goal of reunifying Taiwan with mainland China by force if necessary.
The dispute between China and Taiwan is one of the oldest and most intractable international conflicts. The two sides have been locked in a stalemate for decades with neither side willing to make concessions. The recent election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen who is seen as more opposed to Chinese reunification than her predecessor has further increased tensions. China has responded by stepped up its military activity in the region including flying bombers around the island and holding live-fire exercises nearby. USA has also entered its warships in the waters of Taiwan. The situation is currently at a impasse with no end in sight. USA is warning China, not to invade Taiwan, other serious actions will be taken against China. Situation is warming in the region after Russian invasion of Ukraine. UNO should play its role now for peace in the region.
China Taiwan Military Comparison
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and it is the largest military force in the world with 2 million active soldiers. The Taiwan military on the other hand consists of just over 170,000 active soldiers. So clearly China has a much larger army than Taiwan. However when it comes to military expenditure Taiwan actually outspends China. In 2018 Taiwan’s military budget was $11 billion while China’s was $228 billion. This is because China has to spread its budget across a much larger landmass and population. When it comes to tanks China has around 5,150 while Taiwan has just under 1000. In terms of aircraft carriers China has two while Taiwan has none. China has more than 3000 fighter jets while Taiwan has about 700 fighter air crafts. China is an atomic where where as Taiwan depends upon USA in this regard.
The Taiwan military is much smaller in comparison with a total personnel strength of just over 170 thousand. However what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in training and technology. The Taiwanese military is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Remember that military power of USA is also with Taiwan.
Future of China & Taiwan Dispute
Now come to future affairs from current affairs. The future of the China-Taiwan dispute is unclear. Both sides have dug in their heels and there seems to be no end in sight. The situation is made even more complicated by the fact that the United States has been a longstanding supporter of Taiwan. As China continues to grow in power and influence it is unlikely that the status quo will remain for much longer. It is possible that China will eventually force Taiwan to reunify with the mainland but it is also possible that Taiwan will declare independence leading to a potential military conflict. All peace loving countries should try to reduce the tension between USA/Taiwan and China.
Solution of China Taiwan Dispute
The dispute between China and Taiwan is one of the oldest and most intractable international conflicts in the world. The two sides have been locked in a stalemate for decades with neither side willing to make concessions. However there has been some movement recently with China agreeing to allow Taiwan to participate in international organizations such as the World Health Organization. There have also been high-level talks between the two sides although these have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Last but least at present status quo for 100 years is the best possible solution of China Taiwan dispute. There are some out of the box solutions too which studysolutions.pk will discuss in near future for peace in the world in its current affairs related posts. Visit our general knowledge and current affairs category daily.
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Current Affairs-China Taiwan Dispute, History, Current Situation & Solution
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