China-Taiwan Relations

• Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island off the southern coast of China that has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. 

China and Taiwan sharply disagree on the island’s status. While Taiwan’s government claims it is an independent country, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) asserts that there is only “one China” and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.

Background

• The China-Taiwan Relations can be traced back to 1949 and the end of the Chinese civil war. 
• The defeated Nationalists, also known as the Kuomintang, retreated to Taiwan and made it their seat of government while the victorious Communists began ruling the mainland as the People’s Republic of China. 
• The island has since been run as a separate entity from mainland China, though Beijing never gave up its claim over Taiwan.

‘One China’ policy

• It is the diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s position that there is only one Chinese government. It acknowledges Taiwan being part of China and the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China.
• Any country that wants diplomatic relations with mainland China must break official ties with Taiwan. This has resulted in Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation from the international community.
• Taiwan now only has diplomatic relations with 15 countries, almost all small and developing nations like Nauru, Belize and Honduras.

Why in News?

• China has asked India to approach ties with Taiwan prudently and properly in line with the ‘One-China principle’ and said it would firmly oppose any official exchanges between New Delhi and Taipei.
• The statement came in response to reports that India and Taiwan were considering going forward with talks on a trade deal. India and Taiwan in 2018 already signed a bilateral investment agreement. India-Taiwan trade ties have expanded since and Taiwanese firms are prominent investors in India, although India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-warns-india-on-ties-with-taiwan/article32902761.ece