ASSESSMENTS

Taiwan: Feeling the Backlash of Potential U.S. Support

Dec 23, 2016 | 16:26 GMT

Taiwan: Feeling the Backlash of Potential U.S. Support
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrives at the Suao naval base in eastern Ilan county on June 4, 2016.

(SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

After eight years of relative stability, the status of the Taiwan Strait is once again in question. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's pro-independence policies and search for economic autonomy, as well as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's apparent challenge to the One China policy, seem to have broken the diplomatic truce between mainland China and Taiwan. As a result, some countries are considering breaking ties with Taiwan, wary of offending the more powerful China. On Dec. 20, the African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe became the first to completely jump ship.

After eight years of relative stability, the status of the Taiwan Strait is once again in question. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's pro-independence policies and its search for economic autonomy, as well as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's apparent challenge of the One China policy, seem to have broken the diplomatic truce between China and Taiwan. As a result, some countries are considering breaking ties with Taiwan, wary of offending the more powerful China. On Dec. 20, Sao Tome and Principe became the first to completely jump ship. ...

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