“It cannot stop the general trend of eventual reunification of the motherland.”
The fact is that the idea of unification has become so disgusting to 92.6% of voters in Taiwan, according to monthly polls by National Chengchi University, that no major party is now pursuing it. Even he, Beijing's favored candidate from the Kuomintang, has ruled out talks on the issue during his presidency.
Map depicting Taiwan as part of China on Hoi An Island. credit: Sanghi Liu
Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong, where it has pledged to support a “one country, two systems” agreement only to eliminate free elections in 2022, has put an end to any peaceful dream of unification with Taiwan.
The worry now is that they will use other means to achieve this. Already, Beijing is sending fighter jets and warships toward the Taiwan Strait in a daily campaign of harassment.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has spent a decade promoting Chinese nationalism, creating a generation of young Chinese who believe that unification with Taiwan by age 50 is their destiny. They would prefer to avoid war if they can, but believe they may have to start launching missiles if necessary.
“If China’s economy becomes strong enough and the Taiwanese become our employees, it will be easier,” said a 23-year-old university student on Hoi An Island after looking through binoculars in Taiwan.
“We have been calling for peace for a long time, but we also have to make clear to them that we have final borders and we will not continue to compromise.”
University students on Hoi An Island stand at the closest point between the mainland and the main island of Taiwan. Taiwan is located 68 nautical miles from Hui'an. credit: Sanghi Liu
This is the challenge facing Taiwan and its supporters around the world, including Australia: maintaining the status quo through diplomatic and military deterrence. An incomplete solution allows Taiwan to continue self-rule without formally declaring international independence and risking a hasty response from Beijing.
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On Saturday, the status quo allowed 14 million people to vote, walk their dogs through Dan Forest Park on a glorious winter's day, and stop for cabbage and pork pies to complain with friends about rising house prices.
As one diplomat in Taipei, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said: “It's comprehensively better than the alternative.”
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