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Loyalty For Sale?: The Convoluted World of 'One China' Politics
Things do not appear to be going Chinese-Taiwan's way this week, with the announcement that disputed Pacific island's government has been 'forced' to break diplomatic ties with the African state of Chad, after the Chadian government moved to formally recognize Mainland China as 'the One True China'
| | "To safeguard national dignity, sovereignty, the government of the Republic of China decided to cut off diplomatic ties with Chad and immediately”
Foreign Ministry, Chinese-Taiwan | |
In a statement broadcast on Sunday, officials speaking on behalf of the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry, blamed “evil force” for Chad's apparent defection, and accused China of using a mixture of diplomatic black-mail and economic bribery to pressure Chad into choosing Beijing over Taipei. | | "Knuckling under China's huge pressure, Chad has decided to restore diplomatic ties with Beijing"
Lu Ching-lung (Also known as “Michel” Lu), Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, Chinese-Taiwan | |
Knuckling Under?
Chad's decision to ' switch loyalties' apparently comes after Beijing went against the wishes of the World Bank, and offered Chad 'unconditional' support in building up its domestic infrastructure.
In the past, China has made a number of deals, most notable with Zimbabwe, in which it has offered to assist countries in developing their agricultural and industrial sectors in exchange for political support and access to domestic markets and natural resources.
In Chad's case, access to its oil sector would likely be a condition of Chinese aid.
According to western media reports, the Taiwanese ambassador was told that Chad's decision had been made “in the interest of the [Chadian] state”.
This statement was not immediately elaborated upon.
A Game That Two Can Play?
Taipei's claims that Chad's loyalty had been brought are not without president. Though knowledge of this fact does not go entierly in Taipei's favor.
In October 2004, it was alleged that Taipei extended $US10.3 in aid to Chad after the Chadian government threatened to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. These alligationa were supported by elements within the Taiwanese government of the day.
Chad denied that they had pressed Taipei for money in exchange for support.
| | "The Chad government has never asked for NT$350 million [US$10.36 million] in aid from Taiwan........we are very sad to see this allegation."
Hissein Brahim Taha, Ambassador to Chinese-Taiwan, Chad
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Embarrassment?
Though Chad's switching of diplomatic is damaging to Chinese-Taiwan's effort to maintain international support in the face of China's growing political and economic influence, it also comes at a particularly embarrassing time for Taipei.
Until this weekend's announcement, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang had been due to attend a confirmation ceremony for thee term Chadian President Idriss Deby.
Su's presence at the ceremony, as a representative of Chinese-Taiwan, would have served as a firm reminder of the disputed island state's continued existence as a sovereign entity.
However, with the breaking of diplomatic relations, Su's visit has now been cancelled, and his place is likely to be taken by a representative from Mainland China. Handing the Mainland the recognition that would have been given to it's unwilling neighbor.
Some observers have voiced that the tightness of these events 'might not be coincidental' and have proffered that Beijing may have engineered them so as to cause maximum loss of Face for Taipei.
Had Chad not switched recognition, Su's delegation to Chad would have departed today.
' Coincidentally', Ahmat Allami, Foreign Minister happened to be visiting Beijing at the time of the announcement. Putting him in a position to announce Chad's decision 'in person' to Chinese officials.
Aid?
In addition to breaking off diplomatic relations with Chad, Taiwanese officials also announced that they would be suspending development and humanitarian co-operation with Chadian authorities. Effectively cutting Chad off from all Taiwanese aid.
| | "The Taiwan government terminates diplomatic ties with Chad and halts all aid programmes because Chad has decided to recognize China”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Ching-lung (Michel Lu) | |
At present, it is not clear what impact the withdrawal of Taiwanese aid will have on Chad, though it is likely that Beijing has offered to 'compensate' Chad for its losses, in return for recognition.
At present, it is not clear what form such compensation could take in the long term, though some observers have speculated that a portion of this aid will be military in nature.
Commercial Realities?
Despite the breaking of diplomatic ties, and the cancellation of aid deals, it has been authorities have confirmed that the two parties, Chad and Chinese-Taiwan are to continue their commercial relationship.
At present, this relationship is not very deep, but it includes a notable oil deal between Chad and between Taiwanese oil interest 中油 (Chinese Petroleum Corp), which will be permitted to continue.
| | “CPC has drilled for oil in countries which did not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, so our oil exploration in Chad will continue”
Kuo Pao-long, Manager, CPC | |
Taipei based 中油 (Chinese Petroleum Corp) is a state owned enterprise.
Chad?
Chad, a French colony until 1960, first moved to recognize Chinese-Taiwan as a sovereign state in 1962 under the rule of President Francois Tombalbaye. However Tombalbaye later switched diplomatic recognition to the Chinese Mainland in 1972.
Chad, Under President Félix Malloum, again moved to recognize Chinese-Taiwan in 1977. Resulting in the Mainland breaking off diplomatic relations.
Chad is the 7th state since 2000 (including Nauru, which has since reverted to recognizing Taiwanese sovereignty) to change its diplomatic recognition to the Mainland.
“One China” ..... and One Taiwan (Just don't tell Anybody)
Although Chad's defection to the 160 strong ' One China' camp, leaves the disputed island with only 24 nations recognizing it's sovereignty, Chinese-Taiwan is far from isolates, and enjoys levels of international co-operation and recognition far higher than many undisputed nations.
As such most significant members of the international community pay only lip-service to their respective 'One-China' agreements, and maintain near full, though informal, diplomatic ties with the disputed island.
Usually, these ties are through a series of de facto embassies and agencies, including the 'Taipei Economic and Cultural Office'; which has a presence in many countries, including the US and Japan, the 'Taipei Representative Office'; Chinese-Taiwan's de facto consular presence in Britain, and the 'American Institute in Taiwan'; which serves as America's de facto embassy to Chinese-Taiwan.
Similarly, most significant nations maintain a two-tier system for matters trade, travel and diplomatic policy which clearly distinguishes between Mainland China and Chinese-Taiwan, and which treat the island as if it were a sovereign state.
Example's of this two-tier system include Japanese visa regulations that permit any Taiwanese passport holders unlimited visaless entry to Japan for up to 90 days (Corresponding measures measures with the Mainland permit only Chinese Students to enter Japan without a visa, and limit them to 30 days travel which must be for educational purposes).
Obtaining a business, spouse or tourism visa/permit to a many Western countries is also a notably simpler and more expedient process for a Taiwanese passport holder than a Mainland passport holder.
Additionally, because of their distinctly different governments and reputations, most nations also treat Mainland China and Chinese-Taiwan as distinct sovereign states for purposes of exports, particularly where said exports are of a sensitive nature.
| | “Trade with China is routinely viewed through the prism of Chinese military capabilities”
James A. Lewis, Center for Strategic and International Studies | |
Example's of this include an EU arms export ban that applies exclusively to the Mainland, and the fact that, while the US maintains ' special export restrictions' on sensitive or 'duel use' technology destined for the Mainland, Chinese-Taiwan is covered only by standard export regulation.
At present, Beijing is fully aware of these disparities, but largely tolerates then in exchange for the Face and diplomatic capital that it gains from being ' formally' recognized as 'the One True China'.
Due to tight state control over the media, most Chinese citizens are unaware of the full extent of this two-tier system, or the disparities in world diplomacy that exist between Mainland China and Chinese-Taiwan.
Recognition?
Countries that currently recognize Chinese Taiwan are (In order of recognition)
- The Vatican (1942)
- Panama (1954)
- Haiti (1956)
- Dominican Republic (1957)
- Paraguay (1957)
- Costa Rica (1959)
- Guatemala (1960)
- Salvador (1961)
- Honduras (1965)
- Malawi (1966)
- Swaziland (1968)
- Tuvalu (1979)
- Nauru (1980, re-recognized in 2005)
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1981)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983)
- The Solomon Islands (1983)
- Belize (1989)
- Nicaragua (1990)
- Burkina Faso (1994)
- The Gambia (1995)
- Sao Tome and Príncipe (1997)
- Marshall Islands (1998)
- Palau (1999)
- Kiribati (2003)
Change of Recognition?
Although most significant changes of recognition occurred during the 1970s, including those of the US, Japan and the UN, Chad is the 7th state to switch recognition since 2000.
The other 6 states were:
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Liberia
- Macedonia
- Nauru
- Senegal
Despite dropping recognition of Chinese-Taiwan, in favor of Mainland China, Nauru reestablished diplomatic ties with Chinese-Taiwan in 2005.
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