China’s pressure on Taiwan is growing. In addition to naval bullying in the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese government is leveraging its influence over poor countries to apply indirect pressure.In a recent example, the president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, was forced to cancel a scheduled trip to Africa after Beijing pressured three Indian Ocean nations to bar his plane from crossing into their airspace. He could not reach his destination without their overflight permission. Simple, yet effective.The cancellation is part of a troubling trend. With Washington’s attention focused on the Middle East, Beijing smells an opportunity to put the screws to the democratically governed island.
ALLIES SAY XI HAS NO SHOT AT CONVINCING TRUMP TO CHANGE TAIWAN POLICY
China explicitly considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and holds a policy of “reunification” with the island. This has only accelerated under Chinese President Xi Jinping and his policy of “national rejuvenation.” As with all communist regimes, “reunification” means “hostile takeover.”
Xi recently welcomed the leader of Taiwan’s opposition party, Cheng Li-wun, to Beijing. Cheng and Xi huddled for hours, even though beforehand Xi had declared that Taiwan was an “inseparable” and “inalienable” part of China.
