2024-01-15 09:44:00
The Chinese grip is tightening on Taiwan. While the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), defender of the independence of the island, Lai Ching-te, won the presidential election on Saturday, Nauru, a small Pacific nation, announced on Monday the severance of its diplomatic relations with Taiwan and its intention to recognize China.
The president of this micro-island state, David Adeang, announced this choice in a speech published on Facebook, displaying “ the decision of the government of Nauru to recognize the People’s Republic of China “. In a press release, the island nation’s government said it would no longer recognize Taiwan ” as a distinct country but rather as an inalienable part of Chinese territory ».
Nauru « will immediately sever diplomatic relations » with Taiwan and « will no longer develop official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan “, he clarified.
In response, this Monday during a press conference, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang declared that “ the Republic of China (official name of Taiwan, editor’s note) will immediately sever its diplomatic relations with Nauru, in order to preserve our national dignity ».
Beijing accused of being behind this decision
Taiwanese authorities responded by accusing China of having offered “ economic aid » to the island of Nauru to encourage it to switch its diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing. “ China actively contacted political figures in Nauru and used economic aid to pressure the country to change diplomatic recognition “, Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said at a press conference.
« While the whole world congratulates Taiwan for the success of the elections, Beijing launched a diplomatic crackdown, which constitutes a response to democratic values and a blatant challenge to the stability of the international order »declared Olivia Lin, spokesperson for the Taiwanese presidency.
Beijing welcomed the decision by Nauru, which was one of the few nations to officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically. Nauru, with a population of around 12,500, is the latest Pacific country to turn its back on a long-standing relationship with Taiwan. With this turnaround, only 12 countries remain to officially recognize Taiwan to the detriment of China, which claims the autonomous democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day take it back, by force if necessary. In 2019, the Solomon Islands also announced that it was abandoning diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of China.
A new president who does not please China
If Beijing put pressure on the Nauru authorities as Taiwan claims, it is because it did not like the result of the presidential election at all.
At the end of a campaign marked by strong diplomatic and military pressure from China, outgoing vice-president Lai Ching-te, 64, won the presidential election in one round with 40.1% of the vote. He will take office on May 20, alongside his vice-president, Hsiao Bi-khim, former representative of Taipei in Washington. Coming from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen – who might not run once more following two terms – Lai Ching-te promised to “ protect Taiwan from China’s continued threats and intimidation ».
The one who, in the past, had defined himself as “ a pragmatic architect of Taiwan’s independence », has since softened his speech: now, like Tsai Ing-wen, he adopts a more nuanced position, affirming that an independence process is not necessary because the island is de facto independent, with its own government and its elections.
But he remains perceived by Beijing as a promoter of “ separatist activities linked to independence » et « a serious danger » for relations between China and Taiwan. China therefore called on the Taiwanese to “ The good choice “, but they preferred Lai Ching-te to his main opponent Hou Yu-ih, of the Kuomintang, who advocated rapprochement with Beijing.
Rising tensions
As a result, during the day, the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, declared that the election in Taiwan will never change the fact that the island is part of the “ Chine unique ». Taiwan n’a « never been a country and never will be “, he reacted. Before warning: initiatives in favor of the independence of Taiwan will be “ severely punished ».
As of Saturday evening, the communist country, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces to be reunified by force if necessary, assured that this vote “ will not hinder the inevitable trend towards reunification with China “. And he promised to “ strongly opposes separatist activities aimed at Taiwanese independence and foreign interference ».
« Foreign Ministry calls on Beijing authorities to respect election results, face reality and desist from repressing Taiwan », replied the island in a press release from the Taiwanese ministry.
Central subject of discord between Beijing and Washington
The Taiwan question is also closely followed by the United States and Europe. It is also one of the most explosive subjects in the rivalry between China and the United States. A conflict in this strait would be disastrous for the world economy: the island supplies 70% of the planet’s semiconductors and more than 50% of the containers transported in the world pass through it.
As of Sunday, an informal delegation composed of former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and the president of the American Institute in Taiwan Laura Rosenberger will arrive in Taiwan. This delegation will meet on Monday a series of leading political figures and will convey the American people’s congratulations to Taiwan on the successful election », According to the Institute press release. The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te as well as the Taiwanese for their “ strong democratic system ».
More ” we do not support independence “, assured President Joe Biden. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as a state and considers the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government, but nevertheless provides the island with significant military aid.
« China has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and resolutely rejected any interference by the United States in Taiwan’s affairsin any way and under any pretext »declared in response to this American delegation, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, during a press conference.
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