Final Essay of Taiwan-Island at the Crossroad-
Taiwan Today-History and Current Incidents-
After the general election in 2016, Tsai Ing-wen became the first woman premier in Taiwan. Kuomingtang which had come to power for a long time lost the election and Democratic Progressive Party won. “How to associate with People’s Republic of China” was one of the main points of this presidential campaign. Eric Chu Li-luan, representatives of Kuomingtang, insisted that expanding relationship with mainland China was important for Taiwan’s national interest. On the other hand, Tsai Ing-wen highlighted that intimate relationship with China would lose Taiwan’s independence and democracy. Current General Secretary of Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping promotes One-China policy which is based on ideology that persists mainland China, Macao, Hog Kong and Taiwan should be one states. However, seeing the result of the election, it might be said that Taiwanese public opinion against this mainland China’s policy. Then, how was nationalism of Taiwan nurtured? This essay elaborates characteristics of Taiwan nationality and its influence on global society, especially China, Japan and United States.
Twenty years has passed since Taiwan nationalism appeared in its politics. First, ideology and movement of independence of Taiwan emerged after the Second World War. In concrete, they were provoked by Chinese government’s post war policy. Taiwanese forced to change their nationality in 1895 and 1945. Relations between inhabitant in Taiwan and Japanese colonialism, and Chinese after the war were definitely inequality. Ethnicity of Taiwanese emerged through those harsh experiences. It was difficult for Taiwan Nationalism activists to promote this movement rapidly because of white terror after February 28 Incident. However, some of intelligences kept to Taiwan independent movement overseas such as mainland China, Japan and the United States. Thanks to them, Taiwan Nationalism movement has continued and one of the pro-independent parties achieved to win the latest election eventually.
The rise of Taiwan nationalism has a great impact on relationship among China, the United States and Japan. International arrangement toward Taiwan is based on Shanghai Communique and Joint Communique. They have two aspects: Countries which have relationship with People’s Republic of China do not acknowledge the existence of Taiwan and United Nation and the other international organization veto participation of Taiwan to those organization. China does not allow Taiwan to become independent in respect of One-China policy. In 2005, she clearly declared to use military force if necessary even though Taiwan does not have enough natural resources. Japan does not support the independence of Taiwan as well. Both China and Japan follow Joint Communique. Japan only continues civilian exchanges such as private sectors (non-government relations). Policy of the United States attempts to be pro-Taiwan but not to be anti-China, and also policy toward Taiwan is how to convince to be pro-democracy but not to become independent. From Japanese political perspective, status quo is the best way to gain national interest. Japan and Taiwan are one of the main import and export partners each other. If Taiwan declared to become independent, the relationship with China would be worth because the United States would dispatch military force to achieve deterrence and it would be possible that she would ask Japan to cooperate military action. China wants to pursue One-China policy, Japan hopes to enjoy economic benefit from Taiwan and China and the United States needs to keep peace in Taiwan Strait. Since each country has different national interest, it is not easy to compromise and finally these attitudes obstruct independence of Taiwan.
In conclusion, history of Taiwan is regarded as the edge of countries which dominated Taiwan. For example, she has gone through under Qing density’s domination, Japanese imperial colonialism and finally become a part of China. From the historical perspective, Taiwan nationalism is will of Taiwanese to gain political independence and to change the attitude from passive to positive. However, current people in Taiwan, very few hope to become independent and unify the mainland China. Most of Taiwanese have satisfied status quo. But the result of the latest presidential election demonstrates that Taiwanese are not merely submissive people who follow mainland China’s policy. Therefore neighbors can no longer neglect political and democratic might of Taiwan.
After the general election in 2016, Tsai Ing-wen became the first woman premier in Taiwan. Kuomingtang which had come to power for a long time lost the election and Democratic Progressive Party won. “How to associate with People’s Republic of China” was one of the main points of this presidential campaign. Eric Chu Li-luan, representatives of Kuomingtang, insisted that expanding relationship with mainland China was important for Taiwan’s national interest. On the other hand, Tsai Ing-wen highlighted that intimate relationship with China would lose Taiwan’s independence and democracy. Current General Secretary of Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping promotes One-China policy which is based on ideology that persists mainland China, Macao, Hog Kong and Taiwan should be one states. However, seeing the result of the election, it might be said that Taiwanese public opinion against this mainland China’s policy. Then, how was nationalism of Taiwan nurtured? This essay elaborates characteristics of Taiwan nationality and its influence on global society, especially China, Japan and United States.
Twenty years has passed since Taiwan nationalism appeared in its politics. First, ideology and movement of independence of Taiwan emerged after the Second World War. In concrete, they were provoked by Chinese government’s post war policy. Taiwanese forced to change their nationality in 1895 and 1945. Relations between inhabitant in Taiwan and Japanese colonialism, and Chinese after the war were definitely inequality. Ethnicity of Taiwanese emerged through those harsh experiences. It was difficult for Taiwan Nationalism activists to promote this movement rapidly because of white terror after February 28 Incident. However, some of intelligences kept to Taiwan independent movement overseas such as mainland China, Japan and the United States. Thanks to them, Taiwan Nationalism movement has continued and one of the pro-independent parties achieved to win the latest election eventually.
The rise of Taiwan nationalism has a great impact on relationship among China, the United States and Japan. International arrangement toward Taiwan is based on Shanghai Communique and Joint Communique. They have two aspects: Countries which have relationship with People’s Republic of China do not acknowledge the existence of Taiwan and United Nation and the other international organization veto participation of Taiwan to those organization. China does not allow Taiwan to become independent in respect of One-China policy. In 2005, she clearly declared to use military force if necessary even though Taiwan does not have enough natural resources. Japan does not support the independence of Taiwan as well. Both China and Japan follow Joint Communique. Japan only continues civilian exchanges such as private sectors (non-government relations). Policy of the United States attempts to be pro-Taiwan but not to be anti-China, and also policy toward Taiwan is how to convince to be pro-democracy but not to become independent. From Japanese political perspective, status quo is the best way to gain national interest. Japan and Taiwan are one of the main import and export partners each other. If Taiwan declared to become independent, the relationship with China would be worth because the United States would dispatch military force to achieve deterrence and it would be possible that she would ask Japan to cooperate military action. China wants to pursue One-China policy, Japan hopes to enjoy economic benefit from Taiwan and China and the United States needs to keep peace in Taiwan Strait. Since each country has different national interest, it is not easy to compromise and finally these attitudes obstruct independence of Taiwan.
In conclusion, history of Taiwan is regarded as the edge of countries which dominated Taiwan. For example, she has gone through under Qing density’s domination, Japanese imperial colonialism and finally become a part of China. From the historical perspective, Taiwan nationalism is will of Taiwanese to gain political independence and to change the attitude from passive to positive. However, current people in Taiwan, very few hope to become independent and unify the mainland China. Most of Taiwanese have satisfied status quo. But the result of the latest presidential election demonstrates that Taiwanese are not merely submissive people who follow mainland China’s policy. Therefore neighbors can no longer neglect political and democratic might of Taiwan.