Taiwan and China’s Complicated Relationship

Taiwan and China have a very complex history, and their relationship today is nothing if not complicated. Taiwan is officially called The Republic of China (ROC). Originally conquered by the Chinese in 1683, Taiwan was eventually ceded to Japan in 1895. Following the end of WWII in 1945, Taiwan was surrendered by Japan to China. But after China’s civil war ended in 1949, the Communist party gained full control of China and formed the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The ROC government relocated to Taiwan, where the entirety of its jurisdiction remains today. To the ROC, Taiwan is officially the government in exile of Mainland China. To Mainland China, the PRC, the ROC has no official sovereignty or independence from its rule.

Pres. Ma Ying-jeou was first elected in 2008.
Image: Jameson Wu / Flickr CC

The current leader of Taiwan is President Ma Ying-jeou, who was elected in a landslide victory in 2008 and then more narrowly re-elected in 2012. Lately, Ma has had many critics, though, as he has pursued a closer relationship with Mainland China than many would like.

Last month, Ma likened flights between Taiwan and Mainland China to domestic flights in the U.S., putting many in an uproar over the seemingly “pro-Mainland” attitude. Indeed, Ma has made several changes to bring Taiwan and Mainland China closer than in recent years; direct flights are now available between the two, whereas before fliers had to go through “neutral” territory like Hong Kong; tourists can now visit from the mainland; and even a possible free trade agreement between the two.

Taiwan’s previous leadership couldn’t have been more opposite of Ma; former President Chen Shui-bian even toyed with idea of officially declaring independence from the mainland, something that the PRC has previously threatened with military action. President Ma, however, is loyal to the idea of “one China,” or the hope that one day, China and Taiwan can be reunited.

Sean King, Park Strategies’ Senior Vice President and expert on Asian politics said, “That doesn’t mean KMT leaders approve of Beijing’s undemocratic ways, but I do believe many of them, including Ma, see Taiwan as part of a larger Chinese story.”

Whether the day of reunion will come or not remains to be seen; however, one thing is clear—President Ma’s policies are far more progressive in that direction than ever before. Perhaps, though, it’s moving a bit too fast for some Taiwanese.