US approves 600 million USD armed drones sale to Taiwan
The United States recently approved 600 million USD armed drones sale to Taiwan. By the end of October 2020, US approved the sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan.
Background
The current ruling Communist Party of china claims Taiwan. Taiwan was spit from China mainland in 1949 during a civil war.
History of China-Taiwan issue
After the first Sino-Japanese war in 1895, the Qing Government ceded Taiwan to Japan. Later in world war II, China took over the control Taiwan from Japan and began ruling the island with the consent of UK and US. However, in few years a civil war broke out in China and troops of Chinag Kai Shek were beaten by the Communist armies. The Communist army was then under the control of Mao Zedong.
In 1949, Chiang and remnants of Government of Kuomintang fled to Taiwan.
One Country Two System
The famous Chinese formula of “One Country Two System” was established in Hong Kong. Chinese tried to reunify Taiwan too under the formula. They also offered to provide autonomy to the Taiwanese after reunification.
Taiwan in United Nations
A region shall be recognized as an independent country if it gains United Nations membership. Till date, Taiwan has not become an official member of the UN. It is still recognized as a province of China. Recently, there were issues over reinstating the observer status of Taiwan at the World Health Assembly. US backed Taiwan and China opposed.
Economy of Taiwan
The economy of Taiwan is highly dependent on China. The Taiwanese companies have invested more than 60 billion USD in China and upto 1 million Taiwanese live in China.
Why is Taiwan important for US?
The US uses Taiwan as a gateway to trade and invest in China. Taiwan is an alternate to escape from Chinese sanctions, taxes.
Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020