China - Taiwan

The relationship between China and Taiwan has been characterized by tension and conflict for decades. The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province and has long sought to reunify the island with the mainland, using both diplomatic pressure and military force if necessary. Taiwan, on the other hand, sees itself as a sovereign state and has worked to maintain its independence and sovereignty.

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the Chinese Civil War, which ended in 1949 with the defeat of the Nationalist Party (KMT) by the Communist Party of China (CPC). The KMT retreated to Taiwan, where they established the Republic of China (ROC) and continued to claim to be the legitimate government of all of China. Meanwhile, the CPC established the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland.

For many years, both sides maintained a policy of mutual non-recognition, with each refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the other. However, in the 1980s, Taiwan began a process of democratization, which led to a thaw in relations between the two sides. In 1992, representatives from the two sides held a meeting in Hong Kong, where they agreed to the "One China" principle, which states that there is only one China, but allows both sides to interpret what that means. This agreement set the stage for a period of improved relations between China and Taiwan.

However, tensions began to rise again in the early 2000s, with the election of Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, who was seen as pushing for greater independence from China. In response, China began to increase its military activities around Taiwan and sought to isolate the island diplomatically, putting pressure on other countries to not recognize Taiwan as a separate nation.

The situation has only escalated since then, particularly under the leadership of Taiwan's current President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is seen as more supportive of independence than the KMT, which has traditionally favored closer ties with China. Tsai has sought to bolster Taiwan's international standing and build up its military defenses, in order to deter any potential Chinese aggression.

China, for its part, has continued to assert its territorial claims over Taiwan and has stepped up its military activities in the region. In recent years, China has conducted military exercises near Taiwan, deployed advanced missile systems, and increased its naval presence in the Taiwan Strait.

The United States has played a critical role in the conflict, providing military and diplomatic support to Taiwan. The US has continued to sell arms to Taiwan, despite protests from China, and has sent high-level officials to visit the island. In addition, the US has sought to build a coalition of allies to support Taiwan, with countries like Japan, Australia, and India all expressing support for the island's sovereignty.

The situation between China and Taiwan is complex and multifaceted, with economic, political, and military factors all playing a role. The conflict shows no signs of abating, and many experts warn that tensions could escalate further in the coming years, potentially leading to military conflict. The international community will need to work together to find a peaceful solution to this long-standing issue, which has the potential to destabilize the region and impact the global economy.