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Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine – justified by Moscow as a response to its neighbour's tilt to the West and Nato – has many pondering whether Beijing would follow suit in Taiwan.Beijing has long felt that Washington is using the self-ruled island as part of a strategy to undermine and contain its rival – accusing the US of disrespecting its sovereignty by backing the Taiwanese pro-independence camp.Beijing regards the island as part of its territory, which it intends to recover by force if necessary, and "Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Taiwan" quickly emerged as a Taiwanese catchphrase after the Russian invasion began late last month.
But analysts said there were clear differences between the two – with sovereignty as the key reason why Beijing's intentions in Taiwan were largely different from Russia's invasion of its East European neighbour.
A few points:
- Taiwan has never been "a part of China". At least of CCP China. It's been a part of Japan, and the hated Qing dynasty. But never under the People's Republic.
- China may say it's "an internal matter", but an attack would still be a war. A CIVIL war: continuation of the one suspended in 1949.
- The large majority of Taiwanese, 70+% — do not want to be a part of the mainland. They prefer the status quo. Does the CCP care what the people — the "masses" — think? Clearly not. Should we, the West care? Clearly yes.
- By the way, Hong Kong is different. It was always a part of China, merely part leased from the Chinese government and recognised as part of China in all the Memoranda, Treaties and in our constitution, the Basic Law.
