US ends all restrictions on Taiwan

  • Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, lifted longstanding restrictions that limit US diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

TAIWAN

  • Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC).
  • It is an island off the southern coast of China.
  • It has full diplomatic relations with 14 out of 193 United Nations member states.
  • It has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949.
  • The People’s Republic of China (PRC) views the island as a province. 

TAIWAN REPRESENTATION IN UN

  • Washington’s position began to shift under the Nixon administration.
  • The ROC lost its seat representing China at the United Nations in 1971 to Beijing.
  • Since 1971, the PRC replaced the Republic of China.
  • Washington formally recognised PRC in 1979.

‘ONE CHINA’ PRINCIPLE

  • Beijing and Taipei sharply disagree on the island’s status. 
  • The PRC asserts that there is only “one China” and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.
  • Washington cut ties with Taiwan in 1979 in favour of those with China.

CHINA’S RESPONSE

  • China did not immediately comment on the move.
  • But it has condemned this week’s announcement that Kelly Craft, US ambassador to the UN, would visit Taiwan next week as “crazy provocation”.
  • It said that the US was playing with fire.

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