What is the reason for the tensions between China and Taiwan?

The ongoing rivalry between the United States and China has caused tension in various areas, including the self-governing island of Taiwan, which has had a ripple effect in countries like Australia. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which is located just 160km from mainland China, and has made it clear that they are willing to use force if necessary to achieve unification. On the other hand, the US and its Western allies, including Australia, have been advocating for a peaceful resolution of any differences. In fact, American law mandates that they provide Taiwan with the necessary military hardware and technology for self-defense.

In recent years, the relationship between Washington and Taipei has grown stronger, as Beijing has ramped up its military and diplomatic pressure on the island. To better understand the Taiwan dispute and its implications for Australia, let's take a look at its history.

The official name of Taiwan is the Republic of China, which traces its roots back to 1911 when it was founded on the Chinese mainland after the collapse of the last imperial dynasty. The Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang, ruled China until 1949 when they were defeated by the Communist Party of China in a bloody civil war. The Nationalist Party then fled to Taiwan, an island located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Later that year, Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the People's Republic of China from Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, leading to the two sides being governed separately. Despite this, there is still a shared cultural and linguistic heritage, with Mandarin being the official language in both places.

So why does China want Taiwan? Beijing sees Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, even though they have never governed the island. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his desire for peaceful reunification under a "one country, two systems" policy, similar to what is currently in place in Hong Kong. However, this system of government is not favored by Taiwan.

Taiwan, with a population of over 23 million people, has become a vibrant democracy since the 1990s. The two main political parties, the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party, have been trading victories in presidential elections. In January, DPP candidate Lai Ching-te, who is a staunch opponent of China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, was elected president. Both Lai and his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, reject China's claims and have offered to engage in dialogue, but Beijing has consistently refused and labeled them as separatists.

With China's increasing military spending, they now have the world's second-largest defense budget after the US. This has allowed them to develop advanced weapons systems, including stealth fighters and hypersonic missiles. China's support for Russia's actions in Ukraine has sparked concerns about their intentions with Taiwan and how the international community would respond to an attack.

The US has a long-standing policy of providing political and military support to Taiwan, but they have not explicitly promised to defend the island from a Chinese attack. In May 2022, US President Joe Biden made headlines when he warned that the American military would defend Taiwan against aggression from China. However, with Biden announcing that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming US presidential election, there are questions about the stance of his potential successor, particularly Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan should pay for their defense, comparing it to an insurance company.

Australia's approach to Taiwan dates back to 1972 when they adopted the one-China policy and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This meant that they recognized Beijing as the sole legal government of China and ended their recognition of Taiwan. However, in the decades since, Taiwan's democracy and economy, particularly its technology sector, have flourished. Today, Taiwan is Australia's seventh-largest trading partner.

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