2.23.22
China isn't backing down from its claim to ownership of Taiwan, and Beijing may be closely observing the world's reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to weigh if the cost of launching an assault against Taiwan would be worth it.
Beijing wants the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China and growing tensions between the two have prompted warnings from the United States that America will back Taiwan in the event of a war. China questioned America's commitment to Taiwan, and while Beijing claims there's no comparison between its relationship with Taiwan and Russia's relationship with Ukraine, a soft approach to Russia could factor into China's decision-making. On Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters Taiwan is "for sure is not Ukraine." Hua claimed the territory for China, calling it an "inalienable part" of the country, a belief that Hua labeled an "indisputable historical and legal fact." It's a talking point China's held firm to despite pressure from Western leaders to respect Taiwan's sovereignty.
While both countries lay historic claim to the conflict areas, China appeared to separate itself from Russia by specifically saying the territory has "never been divided and cannot be divided." The situations between Russia and Ukraine and China and Taiwan aren't direct parallels, but with concerns mounting about President Xi Jinping's goals, officials expressed concerns about the conflict's ability to impact other global issues. If Ukraine is put in danger, the "shock will echo around the world," including in Taiwan, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He said people could "draw the conclusion that aggression pays, and that might is right."
