TAIWAN

   Taiwan is an island nation that has a complex and contested history with the CCP. The origin of the dispute dates back to 1949, when the Chinese Civil War ended with the victory of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the Nationalist Party of China (KMT). The KMT government and its supporters fled to Taiwan, where they established the Republic of China (ROC) as a rival state to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) founded by the CCP in mainland China.

   For decades, Taiwan was under the threat of military invasion and diplomatic isolation from China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary. Taiwan’s status was also ambiguous in the international community, as most countries switched their recognition from the ROC to the PRC in the 1970s. The United States, Taiwan’s most important ally and security partner, adopted a policy of “strategic ambiguity” that maintained unofficial ties with Taiwan while acknowledging China’s position on the one-China principle.

   However, Taiwan also developed its own identity and democracy, as the KMT gradually loosened its authoritarian rule and allowed for political reforms and social movements. Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996, and has since experienced peaceful transfers of power between different parties. Taiwan’s current president, Tsai Ing-wen, belongs to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which advocates for Taiwan’s sovereignty and independence from China.

   Taiwan’s role and relevance in the world are more important than ever, as it stands as a beacon of freedom and democracy in a region where authoritarianism and human rights violations are rampant. Taiwan also serves as a strategic partner and a counterweight to China’s expansionism and coercion in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan’s security and stability are vital for the interests and values of the United States and its allies, as well as for the peace and prosperity of the world.