The Daily

China and Taiwan: A Torrid Backstory

Apr 17, 2023

Edward Wong, a diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times, dives deep into the complexities of U.S.-China relations, examining why China is fixated on Taiwan. He unpacks the historical roots of this tension, tracing back to the civil war in the 1940s. Wong discusses recent military drills by China following Taiwan's president's U.S. visit and highlights the significance of U.S.-Taiwan ties. He also reflects on the concept of strategic ambiguity in U.S. foreign policy and Taiwan's struggle for legitimacy in the face of aggressive maneuvers from Beijing.

25:04

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Edward Wong

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Quick takeaways

China and Taiwan's conflict stems from their history and the aftermath of the Chinese civil war.

The US-Taiwan relationship is complex, with the US committed to protecting Taiwan and maintaining its defensive capabilities.

Deep dives

Tension mounting over Taiwan

Tension has spiked between the US and China over Taiwan. The president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, visited the US, infuriating China. China condemned the US for hosting the Taiwanese president and announced military exercises near Taiwan. This escalation reflects a long-standing conflict between China and Taiwan, rooted in the aftermath of the Chinese civil war in the late 1940s. The United States has a complex relationship with Taiwan, recognizing it as the legitimate government of China until the 1970s, when diplomatic ties shifted towards Beijing. However, the US passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, committing to protect Taiwan from coercion and maintain its defensive capabilities.

The Chinese Civil War and the Rise of Mao Zedong's Communism

01:23

Nixon's Trip to China: The Start of a New Era in Diplomacy

01:37

Intro

2min

Historical Roots of China's Fixation on Taiwan

2min

Taiwan's Struggle for Legitimacy

4min

Nixon's Diplomatic Shift: Opening China

4min

Strategic Ambiguity and the Taiwan Relations Act

2min

Tensions and Diplomacy: Taiwan in the Crossfire

12min

The posturing between the United States and China has been intensifying in recent weeks — China responded with condemnations and military drills after Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, met the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.

Today, Edward Wong, who covers foreign policy at The Times, explains why China is so fixated on Taiwan, and how the U.S. got in the middle of it.

Guest: Edward Wong, a diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

The Chinese military’s ships, planes and troops held three days of drills in a spectacle designed to warn Taiwan against challenging Beijing.
U.S. tensions with China were on display as Speaker McCarthy hosted Taiwan’s leader.

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