Beijing’s New Law

Taiwanese independence is the most contentious issue in Chinese foreign policy. Despite the facts, Beijing steadfastly believes that Taiwan belongs to sovereign China. The reality of the situation is that while Taiwan has not yet declared formal independence, the nation has more or less informally broken from the yoke of its giant neighbor.

The island country has its own currency, its own national government, its own foreign relations, its own economic policy, its own military and its own political system. On top of this, a mood of nationalism is rising across the nation, as its citizens embrace the idea of becoming a sovereign people.

Over the years, Beijing has used a number of ploys to curb Taiwan’s designs for independence. This week China unveiled details concerning its newest such ploy: an “anti-secession law.”

“The Anti-Secession legislation’s key points are, first, that Beijing will seek all peaceful means of re-integrating China, and second, that Beijing will employ ‘non-peaceful means and other necessary measures’ only as a last resort …” (Stratfor, March 8). This new law is obviously creating quite a stir in the Far East.

There is no reason to be overly surprised by China’s new law. The history of Sino-Taiwanese relations is peppered with occasions of Taiwan stepping toward formal independence and Beijing responding with saber-rattling. In this case, the anti-secession law is a response to recent moves by Taiwan to conduct a national referendum and possibly even amend its constitution.

It is likely that in the short term, relations between the two nations will remain relatively stable. Many fear, however, that this new law will make it legal, according to Chinese law, for Beijing to wage an attack on Taiwan. This is a redundant point though. If the time comes when China wants to attack Taiwan, law or no law, they will attack Taiwan.

While periodic eruptions like this have been the ebb and flow of Sino-Taiwanese relations, and Beijing’s new law is unlikely to lead to any drastic changes in the short-term, the unveiling of this law does reveal that China is as fervent as ever to stop Taiwanese independence.

One primary stumbling-block prevents China from assuming control over Taiwan: America. United States law obliges America to defend Taiwan if it is attacked. The U.S. has been Taiwan’s strongest ally. Its support—even supplying the tiny island country with some of the most sophisticated weapons available—has made it possible for Taiwan to keep its roguish neighbor in check all these years. Trouble is, America is heavily tied up in the Middle East, and the Bible prophesies that its geopolitical and military willpower will increasingly collapse. At the same time, China’s geopolitical and military power is increasingly growing.

Thus, we can expect the cards to begin to fall more in favor of Beijing. This is already occurring.

As the Trumpet has been saying since 1998, the time is approaching when Taiwan will certainly come under the strong influence of China. It is not immediately clear how this will occur, but it is clear that it will happen because of America’s lack of will to support the island nation of Taiwan.