Taiwan will have reunification

Taiwan is not Ukraine. Taiwan and Ukraine cannot and should not be viewed in the same light, even if two powers are claiming interests of domination for themselves. 

To date, Taiwan is not recognised by the UN or by most other countries in the world, despite the fact that it has a constitution, a flag, an anthem, its own legal organisations, government institutions and democratic elections. Taiwan is in limbo and the United States has maintained throughout several administrations the policy of recognising "One China", which the Asian giant claims at the UN and which means that Taiwan is part of China, even granting it some self-determination, but always under the framework of ownership of Chinese policies.

On the other hand, Ukraine, which belonged to the Soviet Union last century after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dismantling of the Soviet communist regime, achieved independence from the USSR on 24 August 1991. It is a UN-recognised country with links to international organisations, its constitution, anthem, flag, sovereignty, currency, laws, embassies, rules, institutions and elections. And since 2014 it has begun to be systematically invaded by Russia fuelled by Putin's obsession with taking back the former USSR.

Taiwan is recognised as sovereign by 14 countries (Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Esuatini, Paraguay, Vatican City, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu) has no embassies; and the rest of the world sees it as part of China under a special status with self-determination granted. However, there is a strong domestic political movement for independence.

Will China eventually invade Taiwan like Russia invades Ukraine? That is the million dollar question. The Pentagon thinks it plausible in a few more years. China says its motivation is peaceful but in reality it has a plan for a warlike invasion. 

Precisely because of the recent tensions, last Wednesday, 10 August, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China published a white paper entitled "The Taiwan Question and the Reunification of China in the New Era", which defends the island's ancient Chinese territorial belonging; peaceful reunification and respect for a special autonomy regime for Taiwan as well as the absolute rejection of American interference which is only aimed at weakening Beijing.

The text that I have read and reread points out that reunification will happen because it will allow the "rejuvenation" of the country under the concept of "One China" and two systems with the commitment to respect Taiwan's ideological and political identity, but always twinned with the rest of the Chinese. "Blood is thicker than water".

Every line is clarifying under the mission of peace, of dialogue, of seeking consensus for a reunification that is inalienable and inevitable and that will come sooner or later but not by way of arms and oppression, but by way of peace and making the Chinese of Taiwan proud to be united again. 

The document repeatedly accuses the US as an interfering force in the conflict with Taiwan to weaken China and ignite the illusion of separatism and nationalism by fomenting animosity on the island against its Chinese brothers. And he does not rule out the use of armed force if provocations continue.

"They are plotting official exchanges with Taiwan, increasing arms sales and colluding in military provocation. To help Taiwan expand its international space, they are inducing other countries to interfere in Taiwan's affairs and drafting Taiwan-related laws that infringe on China's sovereignty. They are creating confusion about what is black and white, right and wrong," the paper notes.

The Chinese government has published two previous white papers on Taiwan: in 1993, "The Taiwan Question and the Reunification of China" and in 2002, the book "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Question".

This new white paper - dated 10 August - recalls that, in January 2019, Xi Jinping proposed important policies to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful reunification of China in the new era. 

"No matter which political party or group is in power in Taiwan, it cannot alter the course of progress in cross-Strait relations or the trend toward national reunification," the new white paper reiterates.

What does China propose? Establishing a pilot zone for integrated cross-Strait development in Fujian province, promoting integration through better connectivity and more preferential policies and on the basis of mutual trust and understanding. 

What is China committed to? That Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region. Taiwan's social system and way of life will be fully respected and the private property, religious beliefs and the legitimate rights and interests of the Taiwanese people will be protected. China will not give up Taiwan's integration under any circumstances.