Commentary

For decades, the relationship between Taiwan and China has been a touchy subject that many world leaders, including Taiwan’s own presidents, have preferred to sidestep. However, this is not the case for the island’s new president, who decided to address the elephant in the room head-on.

Here’s the crux of the matter: The Republic of China—Taiwan’s official name—was established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. The People’s Republic of China—China’s official name—was founded in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of the mainland. So the ROC is more than a century old, while the PRC is much younger.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te noted this during Taiwan’s National Day celebrations on Oct. 10, and asked the key question: Why does the CCP keep trying to claim sovereignty over the ROC?

Many leaders and historians have found the CCP’s claim puzzling, but only a few have openly challenged it.

“Our nearest neighbor, the People’s Republic of China, just celebrated its 75th birthday on Oct. 1,“ Lai said at the National Day Gala on Oct. 5. ”In a few days, the Republic of China will celebrate its 113th birthday. Therefore, in terms of age, it is absolutely impossible for the PRC to be the ROC people’s ‘motherland.’

“On the contrary, the ROC may be the ‘motherland’ of those mainland Chinese who are over 75 years old.”

He affirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty again on Oct. 10, and stated that the CCP “has no right to represent Taiwan” and its people.

Lai’s unflinching remarks caught Beijing off guard. Days later, on Oct. 14, the Chinese regime responded by holding large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

Under pressure from the CCP, Taiwan has often avoided using its official name to prevent escalating tensions. However, some historians argue that the ROC remains the rightful government of China—a major sticking point for Beijing.

Lai’s bold speeches are changing the narrative. By openly highlighting Taiwan’s historical legacy and official name, he’s urging the CCP to respect Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Taiwan’s importance has surged in recent years, both politically and economically. The island produces more than 90 percent of the world’s high-grade semiconductors, essential for modern technology, making its security a global priority.

Recognizing this, the United States has strengthened its support for Taiwan, promoting policies to help it participate in international organizations. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, encouraging engagement between U.S. and Taiwanese officials at all levels. In 2020, he signed the Taiwan Assurance Act, ensuring alignment of Taiwan guidelines in the State Department. During Trump’s tenure, several U.S. Cabinet-level officials visited the self-governed island.

With the CCP challenging the global order, the United States and its allies see Taiwan as a key partner in maintaining stability and technological leadership. Washington has been expanding the Quad, AUKUS, and other security mechanisms in the Asia–Pacific, with countries like Japan, South Korea, and Canada joining in. Even NATO may get involved. The focus is on countering the CCP, with Taiwan playing a crucial role in these alliances, though not always publicly mentioned.

This shift could provide Taiwan with opportunities it hasn’t had in decades. The next 10 years may be the best period for Taiwan on the international stage. According to recent surveys by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, more than 60 percent of Americans support Taiwan’s inclusion in global organizations.

In a video address on Sept. 24 at the Concordia Summit in New York City, Lai pointed out that the Chinese regime has been distorting the interpretation of United Nations Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from participating in the U.N. system and other international forums when, in fact, the resolution did not address the issue of Taiwan or the status of the ROC.

Resolution 2758 was passed in 1971, recognizing the PRC as China’s sole U.N. representative, replacing the ROC.

For decades, China has leveraged international and domestic laws to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, weakening its global recognition without direct military conflict. For years, this legal warfare campaign seemed to go unnoticed by Taiwan’s allies. But that’s now changing. Since 1971, Washington has consistently opposed Beijing’s attempts to redefine Resolution 2758. Recently, other nations have begun to follow suit.

In August, the Australian Senate unanimously passed a motion asserting that Resolution 2758 did not grant the PRC sovereignty over Taiwan or its people. In September, the Dutch Parliament adopted a similar motion rejecting Beijing’s territorial claim over Taiwan. These emerging resolutions are challenging China’s interpretation of Taiwan’s status.

Taiwan’s international standing was greatly diminished after the United States officially switched diplomatic recognition from the ROC to the PRC in 1979.

The island’s most perilous period was probably in the 1980s and 1990s, when U.S. arms sales to Taiwan essentially stopped, and the United States shifted to military cooperation with the CCP, including collaborations in military technology. During this risky time, the CCP, reliant on U.S. support for economic growth, stepped back from its goal of unifying Taiwan by force, providing a temporary respite.

By the late 1990s, the CCP had shifted to softer tactics, using economic pressure and ongoing efforts to suppress Taiwan’s international presence.

Meanwhile, the contrast between the two governments is stark. After moving to Taiwan, the ROC became a democracy, while the PRC under the CCP remained an autocratic state focused on maintaining control.

With the recent global focus on countering the CCP’s influence, Taiwan’s strategic importance has been reevaluated. The combination of Taiwan’s critical role in global technology, Lai’s bold leadership, and increasing support from allies suggests that Taiwan may indeed be entering its best decade on the international stage.