LAI Ching-te, became the President of Taiwan on 20th May 2024, after winning the 2024 presidential election in January. Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai is a physician by profession and a very well reputed politician but Beijing calls him a dangerous separatist who will bring war and decline to the region. Just a few days after, William Lai was sworn in, ‘China launched major military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island’ say media reports. These military drills were launched just to strengthen China’s claim over self-governed Taiwan.
Chinese military Eastern Theatre Command spokesperson Naval Colonel Li Xi said the drills were a ‘strong punishment’ for the separatists. According to the Xinhua, the official news agency of China, the drills were ‘a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces.’ China’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said talking to Xinhua, “With each provocation of Taiwan’s independence separatist forces, the counter-measures will advance one step further until China’s complete reunification is realized.” On the other hand, in response to these official statements, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said that the irrational provocation would jeopardize regional peace and stability.
With Japan to the northeast and the Philippines to the south, Taiwan is located at the junction of the East and South China Sea in the north-western Pacific Ocean. Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own Constitution and democratically-elected leaders whereas China claims it as a breakaway province of the country; and sooner or later it would be the part of the country. China has so many times reiterated the idea of using force to materialize its claim on Taiwan. China is very much adherent to its ‘One China’ policy which says that there is only one sovereign state under the name China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.
Interestingly in spite of the fact that many Taiwanese consider themselves a separate nation but at the same time they are in favour of maintaining the status quo where ‘Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.’ The BBC published an analysis in January 2024 which said, “Taiwan has strong links to China, its biggest trading partner. And many Taiwanese have business and family connections across the strait. But over time, polls show that the number of people who identify as Taiwanese, as opposed to Chinese, has gone up.” The confronting situation between China and Taiwan could never be resolved unless one of the parties steps back; but practically neither China nor Taiwan is in a mood of stepping back in this confronting situation.
According to a recent analysis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) published on 28th March 2024 in the Strategist, “China claims Taiwan as its own and is feverishly preparing to seize the island by force if necessary, while the United States has increasingly signalled that it would probably fight to defend Taiwan.” In such a situation where USA has openly announced its favours and support to Taiwan in case of a war, things could be very dangerous and an already troubled scenario of the region could become more problematic. Just to evade an atmosphere of conflict and confrontation and in the larger interest of the region, the neighbouring countries will have to play a positive role in neutralization of the situation.
India and Pakistan are the two major countries which could play a role of mediator both for China and Taiwan. As far as India is concerned, according to the Strategic, ‘India is highly unlikely to fight in a conflict over Taiwan, however, it has vital economic and security interests, and valuable policy levers, to ensure that such a conflict never happens.’ On the other hand Pakistan has a very clear-cut stance regarding its companionship with China. The ‘Himalayan Friendship’ between the two countries has ever been quoted as ‘exemplary and matchless’. Certainly Pakistan could never remain indifferent in case China faces any unrest or disturbance caused by interference of any external force.
Recently the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on the social media platform ‘X’ (Twitter) reiterated Islamabad’s unwavering support for China’s stance on Taiwan. He said, “As an iron-brother and a strategic partner of China, Pakistan has always extended its principled support to the Chinese position on Taiwan and will continue to do so.” He further said, “Pakistan adheres to ‘One China’ policy, regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China and supports the Chinese government’s efforts for national reunification. Pakistan would continue to extend support to China on its position on Taiwan.” This courageous statement of Pakistan’s Prime Minister is a message for the whole world that friendship demands a lot of sincerity and sacrifice particularly when it is between two nations and two countries. Pakistan knows well how to stand with its friends in the days of distress and sufferings. Remaining indifferent to the happenings in the neighbourhood and keeping silent over injustice is nowhere admirable and acceptable as indifference mars the sublimity of friendship.
—The writer is Principal of a Government College and senior columnist, based in Multan.
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