Taiwan has become the epicenter of the crisis between China and the United States. Why is this 35,000 km² volcanic island, this small territory of 23 million inhabitants so interesting for Beijing? China wants to integrate it into the People’s Republic to make it one of its provinces.
Today Taiwan is a separate country. It is not not formally independent but it still has a government, a president elected by universal suffrage, a set of specific laws. The official language is Chinese, but it is not quite the same as in mainland China. And this small country is defended by the United States with very close military agreements.
China and the United States oppose via Taiwan. The island has already been Chinese in the past. It was conquered in the 17th century, when it was inhabited by Aborigines. And then the Han ethnic group came to colonize it. He became Japanese in 1895, then freed himself in 1945, at the time of the defeat of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Taiwan will also be for a long time the only China recognized by Western countries, who recognize it Taipei and not at all the Communists in power in China …
Are there still countries that officially recognize the regime in Taiwan? 14 alone, including the Vatican. But China is exerting very strong pressure on the remaining countries. China multiplies threats, offers of loans, of seduction.
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