The visit of the US House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan has left China bitter. Sino-US relations have been tense for the past few years and the US support for China’s broken-off territory of Taiwan has made matters worse. Pelosi’s visit gave reassurances to Taiwan and pledged to always support it and its vision of democracy in contrast to Communist China. Beijing has always claimed Taiwan as its own part, however, Taiwan claims to be independent of China and is now aiming to officiate its independence. China has upped its military drills and power shows around Taiwan to let the world (and particularly the US) know of its military might so that the disputed area does not officiate full independence.
Pelosi’s visit angered China enough to react, both militarily and economically. The People’s Republic summoned the US ambassador in Beijing and also halted agricultural imports from Taiwan. The US and its allies propagate that although China claims the Taiwanese Island as its own, the business of import and export is done as if the two are separate countries. China, now only lays a claim to the territory, but has no official rights over it. Therefore, in essence, Taiwan is independent as it has a completely different economic and political system in comparison to mainland China. The US has already warned Taiwan of Chinese anger and economic repercussions due to Pelosi’s visit and that is what is happening now.
Although the US and Taiwan have had a long-standing relationship since Taiwan’s claim to independence, Taiwan and the US should be cautious of angering China. Pakistan fully supports the One-China policy. Taking the example of Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine apparently has full support from the US and the European Union, however, Russia’s attacks on the nation have left many displaced, disabled and dead. Moreover, the country has also lost much in terms of land and military equipment. If the US pushes Taiwan towards independence to fulfil its own motives, it will be Taiwan that will lose in terms of land and life, not the US that is thousands of miles away. Taiwan should remain cautious and make decisions based on its own understanding of geopolitics and not US promises of support. America’s solidarity does not come without a cost and Taiwan should only choose to side with its ally if it is able to bear that cost.
It is Taiwan’s right to remain independent of China as it has been for many decades now. The island state has chosen democracy as its political system and also believes in the principles of free trade, unlike its claimant China. The US has been Taiwan’s pillar of support since its separation, however, now Sino-US tensions will lead Taiwan to become a battleground and the Island state should at all costs avoid that.
Pakistan has lent its support to its long-standing ally and friend China by reiterating and reaffirming the One China policy. Pakistan’s relations with the US have been sour for the last few years, however, the new government is trying to diplomatically bring both countries closer. However, its close friendship with China has always been a thorn in the eyes of the world. Pakistan, however, is in no position to lose either ally at the moment and so it must tread this path carefully. India, on the other hand, has become America’s most sought-after ally in Asia and it also has its differences with China, therefore, it is likely that India will support Taiwan if and when it chooses to formalize independence. All states should, however, choose what suits them best even if for the time being it withdraws either Chinese or US support.
