China And Taiwan Essay, Research Paper

China has always been a very interesting nation while regarding the United States Epolitical and economic status. China, being a nation of over 1.4 billion (almost + of the world) has remained a superpower among nations due to its enormous landmass, and population. Its enormous size has also allowed it to exert its power over other nations, such as Hong Kong, Tibet, and Taiwan. Its communist style of leadership has created an iron curtain over its shores, allowing it virtually no contact with other nations, especially the largely democratic United States. One must ask the question of whether China has the power, and justification to attempt a take over of Taiwan, an island country east of the lower China. And if so, would it be able to considering the economic important of Taiwan to numerous other nations in the world, which includes the United States?

Taiwan s origins can be traced back to the mid twentieth century. Due to a Communist takeover of the mainland of China in 1949, Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek transplanted his government to Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. Chiang’s Nationalist Party, known as the Kuomintang, or KMT, continued to insist it s Republic of China Ewas the legitimate government of all of China, which in retaliation, went under the guise of The People s Republic of China E The United States, due to the Cold War of the 50 s, took an inflexible attitude towards communist nations, and refused to recognize main land China as the real China, instead opting to recognize Taiwan as the official nation, until Taiwan was dealt a major blow in the early 70 s when the United Nations stripped them of their seat, and gave it to main land China. Nationalist China lost its seat in the UN due to a 1972 to China by President Nixon, who was receptive to a visit by a U.S. president because of a relationship with Russia that soured due to Russia s failure to share nuclear information. Taiwan was in world news again due to recent elections they were having being overshadowed by the Chinese government s testing of ballistic missiles off the Taiwanese coast, although that threat to Taiwan drew a strong reaction from the United States, which deployed two aircraft-carrier battle groups near Taiwan.

Should China attempt to take over Taiwan? Three main factors China should keep in consideration are the human loss implications of any take over attempt of the sovereign nation of Taiwan, the economic benefits reaped against the economic costs of a take over of an entire nation, as well as how Chinese foreign policy relations with other countries would alter after an attempted take over.

Human loss ramifications include losses that would result of a war with Taiwan. Is China certain it could take over Taiwan? If so, how much of its army would it lose? Is it really ready to devote its resources to a war over Taiwan? A war against Taiwan is not only a war against Taiwan; it is a war against Taiwan along with the nations that Taiwan has strong economic ties to, which include (in descending order of export size, starting with the largest) the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Germany.

Taiwan is an economic powerhouse in Asia. With a staggering economy that focuses on machinery, electronics, and electronic equipment (46.3% of Taiwan s exports, actually), Taiwan enjoyed a GDP of 283 billion US dollars in 1997. Paired with a GDP growth rate of 5.7%, and an inflation rate of 1.1%, Taiwan would make a wonderful addition to China s list of territitoires that include Hong Kong and Tibet. Taiwan also maintains a wonderful relationship with the United States by exporting twenty nine billion dollars worth of goods to them while importing twenty two million dollars worth of goods. In a world with a growing dependence on electronics and computers, China would be fit to annex Taiwan and its vast supplies of information creating machines.

Foreign policy plays a role in whether China should take over Taiwan. Is it really smart to attack a nation that supplies the United States, amongst other nations, with computers and electronics? The United States has a policy of protecting its foreign interests. With Taiwan being such a major supplier of products vital to the U.S. economy, the Chinese should not expect the U.S. to stand by while a communist nation they have strained relationships with attacks them. China has always remained an autonomous nation, would they be prepared to perhaps be ostracized from the United Nations, who also receive electronics from Taiwan? China could perhaps face a single nation, maybe two, but could it face the entire United Nations, who would fight to protect domestic interests, as well as human rights causes for Taiwan?

In my opinion, China should not attempt a take over of Taiwan. Besides the ethical ramifications of taking something that is not theirs, China might not even have the actual capacity to attempt a take over of Taiwan. Numerous nations would shun China for its policy of a manifest destiny; perhaps even some would aid in Taiwan s defense to protect their interests. China could not withstand an entire collective of nations, it would be simply too much. It would be in China s best interests to stay to themselves, and leave Taiwan alone.