CSS Current Affairs | One China Policy and US-China Clash over it
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Zarmin Kausar under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Debunking one-China policy
3-How is US engagement with Taiwan hurting China’s policy
- ✓Bilateral relationship with Taiwan
- ✓Sino-American mutual defense treaty
- ✓Constant arms supply
- ✓High-level visits of the U.S to Taiwan, along with the Advocation of Taiwan’s membership in international organizations
- ✓Expansion of capitalist block to discourage communism
4-What is Beijing’s reaction?
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
China has grabbed the world community’s attention as one of the largest economies, threatening the super-power U.S. hegemony. In addition to global power, the U.S. and emerging global power China have indulged in the rat race. However, the U.S. has always adopted this policy that the enemy’s enemy is a friend. Following this, the U.S. has developed strong ties with Taiwan, the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party. After the defeat, the nationalist party fled to Island, Taiwan. So far, China claims Taiwan as its province, named a one-China policy, but Taiwan declares itself a self-governed territory. Nevertheless, the U.S. has made an alliance with Taiwan to hurt China’s one-China policy by developing a bilateral relationship with Taiwan, high visiting of both countries’ leadership and supplying arms to Taiwan. Owing to this, Beijing has expressed aggression by jeopardising and imposing sanctions on the U.S., and this conflict is still ongoing.
Debunking One China policy
Have a look at China’s history; between two opposing parties in China, Mao Zedong and Kai-shek’s Kuomintang nationals, skirmishes started in 1949 on account of two different schools of thought, communism and capitalism respectively, resulting in the separation of Taiwan from China. Taiwan claims to be a separate nation-state, not a part of China. However, in 1970, China forwarded its One China and Two System policy. According to this, China declares Taiwan its province and allows it to run a democratic system of its own choice. China’s foreign minister’s words make it clear: “China’s internal affair and the regional election in Taiwan cannot change the basic reality that Taiwan is part of China, ” highlighting China is strongly committed to not quitting Taiwan as an independent state. Add fuel to the fire; China conditions its trade partners to admit Taiwan as China’s integral part to make the global community acknowledge the one-China policy.
- Bilateral relationship with Taiwan
After Taiwan’s independence, the U.S. accepted it as a legitimate government and initiated a bilateral relationship. Following this, the economic and military associations started between the two countries. In 2023, Taiwan remained the 10th largest trading partner of the U.S. To elaborate, in 2023, the total value of U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan amounted to 128 billion U.S. dollars, composed of exports worth 40 billion U.S. dollars and imports of 88 billion U.S. dollars as per the report of an agency. Most importantly, Taiwan’s exports are more significant than its imports to the U.S. because Taiwan holds the status of the largest market of semiconductors. However, the U.S endeavours to make its economic ties strong with Taiwan to let down China
- Sino-American mutual defense treaty
After its separation from China, Taiwan enforced an emergency and declared itself in a state of war with China. Taiwan and the U.S. signed a treaty named the American Mutual Defence Treaty for defence purposes. As per the treaty, the U.S. will protect Taiwan against China at the time of any attack, threatening China’s one-China policy. This treaty remained effective from 1955 to 1980 and was then abolished. Currently, to protect Taiwan against China, the U.S. often deploys its forces and constantly monitors China’s suspicious moves.
- Constant Arms supply
China views Taiwan as its territory and opposes any foreign arms sales supply to Taiwan. Still, the U.S. supplies arms to Taiwan, and even for arms supply, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 was approved by Congress. According to that act, the U.S. will provide enough arms to defend itself from the mainland. Moreover, the U.S. has provided and is still providing an array of elements, such as aircraft, Naval vassals and defence missile systems. According to a 2023 report given by Aljazeera, “United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby”. Moving forward, the U.S. assists Taiwan in keeping its stand against the one-China policy.
- High-level visits of the U.S to Taiwan and Advocating Taiwan’s membership in an international organization
The U.S. leadership visits Taiwan on and off, which clearly indicates the strong ties between both countries, threatening Beijing’s one-China policy. Moreover, the U.S. advocates Taiwan’s membership for that to be a statehood, which is not a compulsion like a world band. By doing so, Taiwan’s influence in the region would be strengthened, helping foster the economy that the U.S. wants for its interest. Undoubtedly, the U.S. aims to counter China’s prominence in the region by making Taiwan a strong economy and hurting the one-China policy.
- Expansion of capitalist block to discourage communism
Taiwan is another addition to the U.S. block of capitalism as the democratic system prevails in Taiwan. Following this, the U.S. does not want to lose this opportunity to gain another territory in its block to discourage communism. However, China is firmly against capitalism and desires to make communism acknowledged by all the countries. Likewise, China wants to clarify that the world can progress efficiently with communism. By promoting Taiwan, the U.S. seeks to aggravate the situation between two disputed territories to prevent the enhancement of the communism block, putting a one-China policy in the trash.
What is Beijing’s reaction?
The U.S. challenges China’s one-China policy by favouring Taiwan’s stance against China. Beijing views Lai Ching Teas, Taiwan’s president, as a separatist for being U.S.-backed. China has shown its aggression several times over the constant visits of the Taiwanese president to the U.S. Also, China claims that the U.S. immunities for Taiwan have constrained both countries’ bilateral relationships. Apart from this, China has warned the U.S. several times as well as imposed sanctions against five U.S. arms manufacturers over Taiwan weapons sales. Cut to the chase, Taiwan has become a focal point between China and the U.S. rising tension.
Conclusion
The U.S.-Taiwan strong connection has surged the tussle between potent economies, China and the U.S. There is no doubt that the U.S. would never take a step back as its interests to discourage China would be hurt. Please look at history; the Cold War is the best example of this. After the passing years of the Cold War, the U.S. didn’t lose any opportunity to disappoint Russia as the unwavering support of the U.S. for Ukraine is evidenced in the U.S. policy: “Enemy’s enemy is a friend.” There is a dire need for a mediator because this conflict may be turned into a full-fledged war, and this war could be the worst war of the century after World War 2 that might encircle the entire world.
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