In December 2016, President-elect Donald Trump shocked journalists and public officials by
taking a phone call from Taiwan’s President.
No President or President-elect has spoken to a leader from Taiwan in nearly 40 years.
According to Trump’s transition team, the exchange was light-hearted and congratulatory,
however many have speculated that the exchange could be the start of a new chapter in US-Taiwan
relations.
So what is the significance of this phone call?
And where do the US and Taiwan stand today?
Well, the US and Taiwan don’t actually have an official relationship.
The US does not support or even recognize Taiwan’s independence, and instead honors
China’s sovereignty over the island under its One China policy.
Because the governments of Taiwan and China both claim the same territory, foreign states
cannot recognize both.
Under the One China policy, any country that wants to secure diplomatic relations with
China must recognize its claim on Taiwan.
Nearly every country has done so, as China is the world’s second largest economy and
has a huge influence on world trade.
In fact, Taiwan is only officially recognized by 22 countries, none of which are world powers.
The US did once recognize Taiwan, but switched its allegiance to China at the height of the
Cold War, as China joined the US, Japan and other Western powers in a united front against
the Soviet Union.
In 1979, the US and China established formal relations, under which the US agreed to recognize
Taiwan as part of China.
However soon after, the US established “unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan”.
This unique arrangement allowed the US to protect and assist Taiwan, which it sees as
a geopolitical ally.
Today, their unofficial alliance is mostly predicated on trade, travel and friendly interpersonal
relations.
The US is Taiwan’s second largest trading partner, with more than $80 billion dollars
exchanged between the two countries in 2015.
What’s more, under the Taiwan Relations Act, any threat to peace or stability in Taiwan
is “of grave concern to the United States” and the US must provide the “defense articles”
and services necessary for Taiwan to defend itself.
The US has largely followed through on this promise, and has sold nearly $50 billion dollars
worth of military equipment to the island since 1990, despite China’s opposition.
The US has also encouraged Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, many of which
limit the island’s role, as most countries don’t recognize its statehood.
Both countries have de facto embassies, however Taiwan is not legally allowed to raise its
flag on US soil.
But while so-called people-to-people relations remain positive, official diplomacy is close
to nonexist.
Before Trump, no US president or president elect has spoken to a Taiwanese counterpart
since Jimmy Carter.
Public officials are not only shocked by the unprecedented phone call, but also Trump’s
suggestion that he may revisit the US’ adherence to the One China policy, unless the two countries
could “make a deal”.
China responded by stating it was “seriously concerned” over Trump’s threats to the
One China policy, as it is the “bedrock” of political ties between the two countries.
But politics aside, Taiwan and the US maintain robust so-called ‘people-to-people’ relations.
Hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese people travel to the US every year, receiving special
benefits under the US’ Visa Waiver Program.
What’s more the 2010 census showed that the number of Taiwanese immigrants or descendants
live in the US had nearly doubled in the previous decade.
Multiple opinion polls suggest that Americans have a neutral to favorable impression of
Taiwan, compared to a neutral to unfavorable view of China.
Whether or not official relations change under Trump, the people of Taiwan and the United
States will likely remain deeply connected.
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So what exactly is at the heart of China and Taiwan’s ongoing feud?
Find out in this video.
The three links were transportation, commerce and communication.
In response, Taiwan implemented their "Three Noes" foreign policy with mainland China,
no contact, no compromise, and no negotiation.
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