News Highlight
India has appeared to comment on China’s mistreatment of Taiwan by mentioning what it dubbed “the militarisation of the Taiwan Strait“.
Key Takeaway
- The Taiwan Strait’s militarisation was conducted in the wake of the visit by the U.S. House Speaker.
- Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not refer to the “militarisation” of the Strait, only saying India was “concerned at recent developments”.
- The latest reference to Taiwan came amid a spat with China over the visit of a Chinese military tracking vessel, Yuan Wang 5, to Hambantota in Sri Lanka.
The Taiwan Strait
- It is a 180-kilometre (110 mi)-wide strait separating the island of Taiwan from continental Asia.
- The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects the north to the East China Sea.
- Former names of the Taiwan Strait include the Formosa Strait or the Strait of Formosa.
Significance of Taiwan
- Geostrategic location:
- Taiwan is located at the confluence of the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Philippine Sea. It is also located southwest of the Japanese Island Chain and close to Okinawa, so Japan has significantly influenced it.
- For the last several centuries, Taiwan has been a strategic island and a bone of contention between Japan and various dynasties ruling over China. As a result, anyone heading over the island gets a clear edge over its adversaries.
- If China rules it, it will have power projection not only in the Pacific but also in Japan, the Philippines, and other ASEAN countries.
- Taiwan Strait and trade in the region:
- Taiwan Strait is considered one of the busiest shipping lanes in the region, with nearly 90% of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean trade towards Asia, the Middle East, and India passing through this strait.
- Since all the major ports of China are located in the Yellow Sea, its trade has significant value for China. Therefore, on the one hand, China wants to control the trade through the Taiwan Strait, and on the other, it wants to safeguard its shipping lanes passing through the strait.
- Since the Chinese economy is dependent upon exports, China needs control over Taiwan to have absolute control over this trade route.
- A Flourishing and Lucrative Taiwanese Economy:
- Taiwan has grown significantly in the past few decades. As a result, Taiwan has one of the highest per capita GDPs and controls nearly 60-65% of the semiconductor chip business in the world.
What are the “One China Principle” and “One China Policy”?
- The People’s Republic of China (PRC) follows the One China Principle.
- As per this, there is only one China, and Taiwan is a part of China.
- The One China policy is a crucial cornerstone of Sino-US relations.
- It is the diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s position that there is only one Chinese government.
- Under the policy, the US recognises and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.
About Taiwan
- Taiwan is located at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
- Capital-Taipei
- Neighbouring countries:
- Northwest – People’s Republic of China
- Northeast – Japan
- South – Philippines
- Maritime Borders:
- North and northeast – The East China Sea
- East –The Pacific Ocean
Pic Courtesy: The Week
Content Source: The Hindu