China-Taiwan Conflict Explained: Russia could be an Inspiration for China, Here’s all you need to know about another rising debate

With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, it’s hard not to think about what could happen next. The focus seems likely to soon turn towards China and Taiwan as they continue their dispute that has been going on for centuries now with no end date set yet.

With the recent focus on Russia-Ukraine, some fear that it could provide China with their perfect opportunity to take down Taiwan.

Here is what we know so far.

The Formation of Taiwan

Taiwan is the official name of the Republic of China. It was founded in 1911 on the mainland of China after the collapse of the last imperial dynasty there.

The Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), was the ruling party of China until 1949 when they were defeated by the army of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in a civil war. The KMT then fled to Taiwan, an island off the southeastern coast of mainland China.

In the same year, Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the birth of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from Tiananmen Gate in Beijing.

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Situation between China and Taiwan

China sees Taiwan as a province that will eventually be reunited with the mainland.

Let us tell you, After the Second World War, the Republic of China (ROC) took control of Taiwan. However, when they lost mainland China to the Chinese Community Party in 1949, they retreated to Taiwan. Since then the political status of Taiwan has remained contentious.

The People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan to be a territory that will eventually be recaptured by force, if necessary.

However, Taiwanese people disagree about this. The current president Tsai Ing-wen and her party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), want Taiwan to be an official independent country from China. The United States has become an important supplier of weapons and military support to Taiwan over the past few years.

Is Taiwan a Democratic Country?

The people of Taiwan have been able to enjoy a vibrant democracy since the 1990s with two main political parties trading victories in presidential elections.

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Fears about China may invade Taiwan

In recent months, China’s military activity around Taiwan has increased. On the day that Russian troops invaded Ukraine, nine Chinese aircraft were reported to have entered Taipei’s air defense zone and President Tsai Ing-wen put her country’s forces on high alert.

In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a joint statement. In this statement, Russia said that it opposes Taiwan’s independence in any form. Moreover last week, China lifted wheat import restrictions while western countries began imposing sanctions on Putin.

Now that tensions are high in the region, US President Joe Biden has sent a delegation of former senior US defense and security officials to support the island. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived with the delegation on Tuesday.