Taiwan, the bulwark between US-China RelationsTaiwan is one of the most controversial/sensitive issue between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

The US has long possessed an alliance with Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act that includes arms sale among various economic ties. This alliance benefits the US as it represents our fundamental credibility within East Asia as Taiwan is one of the few Asian societies that possess democratic governments as well as free markets.

However, within the past decade, China has risen rapidly as a superpower within the international community and has begun to maintain strong economic ties with the United States regardless of the fact that China is a communist government.

The Bush’s administration policy was based on that China can not use any military force against Taiwan and that the US decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be peaceful.

China believes that Taiwan is a renegade province since the communists drove the nationalists onto the island in 1949. China has said it will threaten to use military power if Taiwan attempts to become an independent state.

As stated in the Taiwan Relations Act, “to make clear that the United States decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means“

Below is the video question submitted for the Youtube/CNN debates:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Ow4lnmA63uw

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People’s Republic of China’s View on Taiwan

The Taiwan Question in China-U.S. Relations 2000/11/17

A. The Taiwan question is the most sensitive issue at the core of the normalization of China-U.S. relations.

The Taiwan question has always been the single most important and most sensitive issue at the core of China-U.S. relations. In June 1950, U.S. President Truman ordered the Seventh Fleet of U.S. Navy be sent into the Taiwan Straits, and the Thirteenth Fleet of U.S. Air Force be stationed on the Taiwan Island, undisguisedly obstructing by force the Chinese Government and people from liberating Taiwan. In December 1954, the U.S. signed the so-called Joint Defense Treaty with the Taiwan authorities, thus placing Taiwan Province of China under the protection of the U.S. Since the very beginning, the Chinese Government and people have struggled resolutely against the U.S. illegal invasion of Taiwan, which gave a serious blow to the U.S. for its ambitious plot to separate Taiwan from Chinese territory, and upheld China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In October 1971, the 26th United Nations General Assembly passed the No. 2758 Resolution, which restored to the People’s Republic of China all its legitimate rights in UN while expelling the “representatives” of the Taiwan authorities. In February 1972, U.S. President Nixon paid a visit to China. On February 28, both China and U.S. issued the Shanghai Communique, in which the U.S. Government declared: “The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Straits maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The U.S. Government does not challenge that position.“

In December 1978, the U.S. Government accepted the three principles of the Chinese Government on the establishment of diplomatic relations, i.e., the United States shall sever its “diplomatic relations” with the Taiwan authorities, abrogate “the Joint Defense Treaty” with Taiwan, and withdraw its military forces from Taiwan. The two countries signed and issued the “Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America”. The U.S. Government stated in the Communiqués: “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” “The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.” The two countries established formal diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979

B. Issues concerning U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the Theatre Missile Defense System(TMD)

In order to resolve the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese and U.S governments held negotiations for nearly ten months and reached an agreement on August 17, 1982. On that date, the two sides issued the China-U.S. August 17 Joint Communiqué , in which the U.S. Government reiterates that it has no intention to pursue a policy of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”, and it “does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution”. Chinese President Jiang Zemin in New York that the U.S. Government was committed to the principles enshrined in the three Joint Communiqués ,

The U.S. side is quite clear that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue at the core of China-U.S. relations. The Chinese side solemnly demands that the United States abide by the one-China policy, the three communiqués and its commitments and correct the wrong acts by restraining from any means to support Taiwan’s entry into WHO and other international organizations whose members are sovereign states. Otherwise, the U.S. should be responsible for all the serious consequences arising therefrom.

ENTIRE REPORT CAN BE FOUND ON: Ministery of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

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World Public Opinion.org–American citizen’s view on Taiwan

Americans are moderately concerned about the possible military conflict between China and Taiwan. If China were to threaten or use military force against Taiwan there would not be majority support for using US military force to protect Taiwan. A strong majority views Taiwan as being more like an independent country than as part of China, and feels that any reunification should be voluntary. The majority supports Taiwan becoming a member of international organizations such as the UN. If Taiwan were to take steps toward independence a majority would not want the US to oppose it, but the majority is opposed to selling advanced arms to Taiwan and favors a low key or cooperative approach to China on this issue.

Concern about the potential for armed conflict between China and Taiwan is a significant concern to Americans. Asked by Pew Research in October 2005 whether they viewed “possible military conflict between China and Taiwan” as a major threat, minor threat, or not a threat to the well being of the United States, 71% saw it as a threat (34% saw a major threat, 39% a minor threat).

Furthermore, when a February 2004 CNN-USA Today presented a list of “possible threats to the vital interest of the United States in the next 10 years,” only 17% said that “the conflict between China and Taiwan” is not important, while 51% said it is important and another 23% said that it is critical.[1]

When President George W. Bush, on Good Morning America, made a commitment to defend Taiwan against China most Americans were not supportive. In May 2001, a Pew survey asked whether the US should “commit to defending Taiwan if China were to use military force against Taiwan” or whether the US should not “commit to such a position at this time.” Nearly two-thirds (64%) felt the US should not commit, while just 26% felt it should.[2]

If China were to attack Taiwan, numerous polls show that there would not be majority support for using US military force to protect Taiwan. A June 2004 CCFR poll asked, “Would you favor or oppose the use of U.S. troops… if China invaded Taiwan?” Only 33% said they would favor doing so, while 61% said they would be opposed. These numbers are largely the same as when CCFR asked in 2002 (32% favor, 58% opposed) and 1998 (27% favor, 58% opposed).[3]

In surveys completed between 1998 and 2000, Pew, NBC/Wall Street Journal, CCFR and others have found majorities of 52% to 58% opposing the use of military force to defend Taiwan from Chinese attack.[4] Also, four times Gallup has asked, “If China were to attack Taiwan, do you think the United States should use its military forces to help defend Taiwan, or not?” The results have always been similar to the most recent case (May 2000), when Gallup found that just 42% thought “the US should use its military forces to help defend Taiwan…if China were to attack [it],” while 48% were opposed.[5]

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Taiwan’s View on Taiwan
As said by chenihan on Youtube:

“1.Taiwan has its own culture, history, currency, organization, government, land, law, president, and a 23 million population.2. Taiwan was a province of China that was lost to Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War. The province was returned in 1952 to Republic of China under the Treaty of Peace between Japan and ROC. ATTENTION, it’s Republic of China (a.k.a. Taiwan), not People of Republic of China.3.If you search “UN” in wikipedia, then you can read all the history about TW’s position in UN. Basically we were one of the 5 permanat members until 1971 when our membership was “transferred” to China. Well…how did it transfer…let’s just say the US was a part of it as well…but that’s another animation. “Please remember that I did not write the above things and they can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6uj4SUMsVM

I am posting these different views on purpose. First, the article on is from the Foreign Affair’s Minister of the People’s Republic of China. The second post deals with a poll conducted among American citizens on their opinion of the US involvement between the China-Taiwan conflict. This post is probably the most controversial as it is a very biased animation/video made by a Taiwanese person as opposed to the more objective view given within the poll results or even the more formal statement issued by the People’s Republic of China.Please view the China-Taiwan conflict that is embedded within US-China relations from these three very different viewpoints and form your own opinion. What do you believe America’s role should be in this situation?