Wu Yongping: An Emerging "Western Bloc" on the Taiwan Question
Director of Tsinghua Institute for Taiwan Studies warns of Western rhetoric that victimizes Taiwan and pan-securitizes China.
Issue 3, 2024 of the Reunification Forum, published by the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, features an analysis of the "Western bloc" on the Taiwan question.
Wu Yongping, Professor and Director of the Institute for Taiwan Studies, Tsinghua University, says Western countries, led by the U.S., have formed a unified bloc on the Taiwan question, including Japan, Australia, Europe, and recently, South Korea. He says that the U.S. and its allies are portraying Taiwan as a victim needing protection and a democratic ally, aiming to "de-sovereignize China," foster ideological confrontation, and promote self-interest and pan-securitization on the Taiwan question. Wu also highlights the linking of the war in Ukraine with the Taiwan question.
Professor Wu has kindly proofread this translation.
西方国家台湾问题立场的阵营化
An Emerging "Western Bloc" on the Taiwan Question
The Taiwan question is becoming increasingly internationalized, evident in two aspects: first, other countries have gotten involved; second, it has transformed from a domestic matter to an international hotspot. As a result, it has evolved from a rarely talked-about issue to one that captures significant attention. This represents both a factual and a perceptual change, which is ongoing and threatens to intensify.
These developments create a new external environment and challenges for addressing and resolving the Taiwan question and achieving national reunification. Understanding and studying these changes are crucial for implementing China's policy to resolve the Taiwan question in the new era.
The emerging bloc of Western countries is coming to the fore in the undergoing internationalization of the Taiwan question.
What is the "Western Bloc" on the Taiwan Question?
The international community's perception of the Taiwan question is comprised of three levels: the views of the general public, the perspectives of elites (including academia, think tanks, and media), and the positions and policies of various governments. At these three levels, Western countries have nearly reached a consensus and formed a unified bloc. In contrast, non-Western countries hold diverse opinions on Taiwan-related issues and do not share a unified stance, thereby not forming a bloc.
The "Western bloc" on Taiwan-related issues consists of the United States and its allies. The U.S. is the core of this bloc, with other countries aligning with the U.S. stance to varying degrees due to American influence, agitation, pressure, or their own interests. To serve its strategic purposes and contain China, the U.S. has used Taiwan as a pawn. From the Trump administration to the Biden administration, the U.S. has significantly upgraded its relations with Taiwan. This is evident in the increased quality and quantity of arms sales to Taiwan, the elevation of U.S.-Taiwan military relations, the strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan economic ties, particularly in high-tech sectors such as semiconductors, and the effort to build a pro-Taiwan bloc by rallying allies.
Japan is the most proactive U.S. ally and the most active and steadfast member of this bloc. Australia also plays a major role in the Asia-Pacific region. Europe is another significant member, as both the European Union as a whole and most EU member states, along with the UK, have joined this bloc. Notably, South Korea has recently shifted from avoiding the Taiwan question to moving closer toward this bloc. Overall, all Western allies of the U.S. have aligned with this "Western bloc" on the Taiwan question.
The "Western bloc" on the perception of the Taiwan question means that the U.S. and its allies have developed similar perspectives and positions, adopted comparable policies, and referenced, influenced, and reinforced each other regarding the Taiwan question.
Why is there a "Western Bloc" on the Taiwan Question?
The formation of this Western bloc is the result of changes in the international landscape, China-U.S. relations, China-Western relations, and globalization. The United States and Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are the primary architects and promoters of this bloc. Of course, the formation of this bloc also reflects Western countries' assessment of their own interests.
The bloc-like stance of Western countries on the Taiwan question is closely linked to their position on China; it is both a component and a consequence of their broader stance on China. Additionally, it results from their evolving perceptions of Taiwan.
The United States is the primary driver of this bloc, which is based on a new narrative regarding the Taiwan question. The U.S. is the most important architect of this new narrative. The DPP has also played a crucial role in the formation and dissemination of this narrative. The DPP's role is reflected in promoting a "protect Taiwan" narrative, which is composed of three parts.
Taiwan as a Victim: Taiwan is depicted as a vulnerable "victim" in the face of the gigantic Chinese mainland, unable to defend itself and in need of protection from the international community.
Taiwan as an Important Member of the Democracy Bloc: Taiwan is portrayed as a successful democratic society with values aligned with those of Western countries. It is seen as part of the global democracy bloc and as an ally worthy of international protection. If the Chinese mainland were to launch a military attack on Taiwan, not only would Taiwan's democratic system be destroyed, but international democratic and liberal values would also be threatened. Thus, the international community must protect Taiwan, equating the protection of Taiwan with safeguarding international democratic and liberal values.
Taiwan as a Contributor to the International Community: Taiwan is a crucial link in global industrial and supply chains, with its chip production playing a key role. A conflict across the Taiwan Strait would disrupt Taiwan chip production, damaging the global supply chain and threatening global economic security. Additionally, Taiwan actively participates in international affairs and is therefore a contributor to the international community.
The DPP promotes this meticulously crafted narrative in the international community through various methods. This includes having prominent figures such as Tsai Ing-wen and Jaushieh Joseph Wu publish articles in mainstream international media, give interviews, and provide manuscripts to international media for publication. These efforts convert the DPP's perspectives into Western media viewpoints, thereby influencing Western elites, Western governments, and the Western public.
A New Discourse System behind the "Western Bloc"
What underpins this bloc is a new Western discourse system regarding the Taiwan question, which "de-sovereignizes China", highlights ideological confrontation, emphasizes self-interest, and pan-securitizes on the Taiwan question.
"De-Sovereignizing China". Western countries formally acknowledge the "One China" policy, yet they frequently separate the Taiwan question from the principle of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity in their narratives. They promote the notion that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other." By doing so, they internationalize China's internal affairs and mischaracterize the issue of China's national reunification as an "attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force" and "aggression" of the Chinese mainland towards Taiwan.
Highlighting Ideological Confrontation. Western discourse on Taiwan distorts the cross-strait regime dispute, a remnant of the Chinese Civil War, into a values-based confrontation between "autocracy" and "democracy." This framing portrays cross-strait reunification as an autocratic system annexing a democratic one, threatening not only Taiwan's democracy but also the global democratic bloc. Consequently, protecting Taiwan is depicted as safeguarding global democratic systems and values, positioning the Taiwan question as an ideological confrontation between blocs.
Emphasizing Self-Interest. Given the significant role cross-strait relations play in global industrial value chains, particularly Taiwan's crucial position in the semiconductor supply chain and the strategic importance of the Taiwan Strait, Western countries increasingly assert that the Taiwan question affects their own economic, commercial, and technological interests. They emphasize their role in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait, claiming that peace in this region is crucial for global supply chain security.
Pan-securitizing. Amid frequent international geopolitical crises and, in particular, the escalating U.S.-China competition, Western policies and rhetoric on China increasingly veer towards pan-securitization, portraying the Chinese mainland as a "security threat" and thus framing the Taiwan issue as one of the world's most critical security concerns. Rhetoric and propaganda, coupled with U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation and other actions, accelerate the portrayal of Taiwan as a powder keg in global discourse.
It is important to recognize that such a narrative is based on de-historicalization. It completely overlooks the origins of the Taiwan question, Taiwan's historical status as part of China, the relationship between the Taiwan question and the evolution of modern Chinese history and the fate of the Chinese nation, and the connection of the Taiwan question with domestic political changes in China in 1949. These historical elements that determine the nature of the Taiwan question are completely absent from this narrative.
Meanwhile, some in the United States are attempting to reinforce this narrative by introducing the Theory of the Undetermined Status of Taiwan. They interpret United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in a one-sided manner, avoid the legal implications of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation regarding Taiwan's status, and disregard Taiwan's recognized position within China as stated in various diplomatic communiqués and bilateral agreements with China. The goal is to detach China's sovereignty from the Taiwan question. While most Western countries in this bloc have not yet fully embraced this stance, the push remains active.
The danger of this discourse system lies in its potential to mislead the international community towards "de-sovereignizing China" regarding the Taiwan question. It creates a false perception that "Taiwan and China are not subordinated to each other, the Taiwan question is unrelated to China's sovereignty, and cross-strait reunification is an international matter rather than a domestic issue for China." This narrative dilutes and undermines China's national reunification discourse, presenting a new challenge for China in handling the Taiwan question. The formation of a "Western bloc" based on this discourse further complicates China's efforts to address and resolve the Taiwan question.
Changes in European Countries' Positions on the Taiwan Question
The European Union and its member states are a significant part of the "Western bloc" on the Taiwan question. Like other members of this bloc, European countries claim their one-China policy remains unchanged, but they have quietly altered their policy on Taiwan. Understanding the shifts in their positions provides insights into the Western bloc. Overall, the positions of the European Union and some of its member states on the Taiwan question are undergoing the following changes.
Europe is changing its stance on the Taiwan question. Before 2020, they rarely mentioned Taiwan and did not have a clear "One China policy," typically responding to China's statements. However, in recent years, the EU has become more attentive to distinguishing between the "One China policy" and the "One China principle." The EU's "One China policy" acknowledges the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China but does not involve recognizing Taiwan as part of China or addressing Taiwan's status. Under the "One China policy", the EU does not establish formal relations with Taiwan.
Recent years, however, have shown signs of a shift. Aside from the "Five Key Positions" (the leader and deputy leader of the Taiwan region, the head of the executive body of the Taiwan region, the head of external affairs of the Taiwan region, and the head of defense of the Taiwan region), officials from other levels in the Taiwan region are now permitted to visit Europe. Furthermore, Europe has expanded its exchanges and contacts with Taiwan in fields such as the economy, culture, education, science, and academia.
The European Parliament has its stance on Taiwan, engaging more actively in Taiwan-related issues. In 2021, the European Parliament issued its first report on Taiwan, urging the EU to strengthen relations with Taiwan, negotiate an investment agreement, and rename the EU office in Taiwan from "European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan (EETOT)" to "European Office in Taiwan." Its 2022 report further emphasized Taiwan as a "key partner and democratic ally" of the EU in the Indo-Pacific region and supported Taiwan's bid to join international organizations like the World Health Organization as an observer. The frequency of exchanges between the European Parliament and Taiwan has increased, recently exemplified by Hsiao Bi-khim's visit to the European Parliament in March.
EU member countries interpret the "One China policy" according to their individual circumstances, resulting in variations from country to country. For instance, countries like Lithuania and the Czech Republic have expanded their relations with Taiwan. Conversely, Denmark recently changed the nationality of Taiwanese residents to "Chinese" on their residency permits, causing dissatisfaction from Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also influencing the EU and its member states' views and positions on the Taiwan question. Following the outbreak of the conflict, the EU and Western European countries believed that China did not condemn Russia and even appeared to lean towards it. Although China did not directly supply weapons to Russia, it provided various forms of assistance that mitigated the impact of Western sanctions. Recently, there have been allegations that China is selling components and raw materials to Russia that can be used in weapon production, thereby enhancing Russia's defense capabilities. Some countries are intentionally or unintentionally linking the Ukraine crisis with the Taiwan question, a trend that warrants serious attention.
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