SPECIAL REPORT: China’s threat to Taiwan sparks debate over U.S. ‘One China’ policy
Updated
In a special report, the Australian Financial Review examines the growing tensions between China and Taiwan, with the risk of a war over the island’s sovereignty growing.
This is the second in a series of special reports on China. The first, released in May, investigated how an increasing trade deficit and debt crisis in the region helped to propel tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
SINGAPORE – What is known about the relationship between China and Taiwan?
A brief history of the two sides before 1949
The Chinese Civil War
The Taiwan Strait
The relationship between China and Taiwan (1950-present)
The relationship between China and the United States
The relationship between China and the United Kingdom
The relationship between Australia and China
The relationship between Australia and Taiwan
The relationship between Australia and the United States
The relationship between Taiwan and China
China’s challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty
U.S.-China trade wars and the challenge to China’s sovereignty
The China story (2014)
Key excerpts:
“In the past, Taiwan’s leaders used various excuses to explain away the political and military realities on the island, ranging from the island’s status as a U.S. military base to its own internal weaknesses.
“But many analysts now see it as the greatest challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty since its declaration of independence.
“Taiwan’s sovereignty is a central question in the broader China-U.S. relationship and the U.S.-China relationship.
“They are not the same. Taiwan is a sovereign country. The United States is not, and vice versa. Taiwan is a country with its own history, culture, language and economic base, and China is not.
“On most issues, the U.S. and China do not agree on fundamental principles. And so the U.S. has continued to insist on its ‘One China policy,’ which implies the United States’ commitment to support the territorial integrity of China and to oppose the ‘One China’ policy of the PRC.
“Both sides have used various excuses to explain away the political and military realities on the island, ranging from the island’s