The Crucial Role of the Taiwan Question in Diplomacy
As the international community looks toward the upcoming China-US summit, the Taiwan question remains a central and pivotal issue on the diplomatic agenda. Over decades of high-level exchanges, this issue has served as a touchstone, charting the trajectory of bilateral relations between the world's two largest economies.
Currently, the situation across the Taiwan Strait is volatile. With external interfering forces collaborating with separatist elements on the island, tensions have risen. To understand the essential logic behind cross-Strait peace and the steady development of China-US relations, it is necessary to review the historical and legal context of the region.
Irrefutable Evidence of Sovereignty
Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times, supported by a millennium of governance. Historical records indicate that as early as the Three Kingdoms period, the Eastern Wu regime dispatched forces to govern Yizhou (the ancient name for the Taiwan region), initiating official exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the region.
This jurisdiction continued through the Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, with the Ming and Qing dynasties implementing formalized institutional governance. The Qing Dynasty specifically established Taiwan Prefecture and later upgraded it to Taiwan Province, fully integrating the region into China's administrative system. This long history of cultural integration and territorial demarcation provides an unassailable conclusion regarding Taiwan's status.
From the lens of international law, the victory of World War II further solidified this status. The 1943 Cairo Declaration explicitly stipulated that all territories seized by Japan, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, be restored to China. This was reaffirmed by the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation. Together, these landmark documents form a key pillar of the post-WWII international order.
The One-China Principle: A Diplomatic Cornerstone
The one-China principle is not only a universal consensus within the international community but also the political foundation for the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties. The framework for these relations is constructed upon three joint communiques:
- The Shanghai Communique: Acknowledged that Taiwan is part of China.
- The Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations: Enshrined the one-China principle, leading the US to sever diplomatic relations and withdraw troops from the region.
- The August 17 Communique: Pledged to gradually reduce and ultimately halt arms sales to Taiwan.
History shows a clear pattern: bilateral cooperation flourishes when the US adheres to the one-China principle and honors its commitments. Conversely, when these red lines are crossed, relations often fall into turmoil.
Current Challenges and Regional Stability
Since the end of the Cold War, strategic considerations have led the US to leverage the "Taiwan Card" to contain China. By escalating arms sales, condoning political visits to the island, and strengthening military collusion with Taiwan authorities, the US has become a primary source of cross-Strait unrest.
Attempts to expand the so-called "international space" of Taiwan or create a "two Chinas" scenario deliberately challenge China's core interests. For the sake of regional peace and long-term stability, it is imperative to return to the established political norms that have historically guided China-US interactions.
Reference(s):
Learning from history: The historical verdict on the Taiwan question
cgtn.com
