China-Taiwan problem

Taiwan has existed since 1949, when the forces of Mao Tse Dong established his authority in Beijing and indeed throughout China. The retreating forces led by defeated Chiang Kai Shek came to the southern city of Canton before fleeing to the island of Taiwan. The Chinese population of Taiwan have established a thriving state under the benign protection of American power. I recall that as a member of the first high level Bangladesh Delegation to China led by Gen. Ziaur Rahman in 1977 shortly after the death of Chairman Mao, we slept in the same guest house occupied by Chiang Kai Shek. The premises smelt damp and the beds were ice cold as they were never slept in after the departure of Chiang Kai Shek and his comrades.

China has maintained that Taiwan is an integral part of mainland China and sooner or later she would have to return to her. As 14 million Taiwanese continue to prosper, China continues to grow and gather great strength. As a member of the nuclear club and the most populous country of the planet with a population of 1.4 billion, she is a power to reckon with on the world stage. She has faced world opprobrium for taking hold of the land of Dalai Lama, who has sought refuge in India. For all practical purposes Tibet is a settled issue. Indeed China, who in the 19th century saw the dismemberment of her country in the hands of colonial European powers, has been recovering her lost territories. Thus we have witnessed the passage of Hong Kong under Chinese sovereignty. The entire exercise with Britain was carried out in a civilized manner through negotiations between China and Britain.

We may note here in passing that China since assumption of authority has tried scrupulously to avoid conflict with any outside power. We recall that during the Korean war in the early fifties, she was nearly dragged into war against the US. In 1962 hostilities took place between China and India and China was careful not to escalate the conflict and withdrew forces, once she had made the point that the Himalayan area was a region of dispute. The most remarkable aspect of China's foreign policy is that it is very carefully crafted and does not go for any kind of adventurism.

While analyzing the China-Taiwan problem, we have to bear in mind the above observation. The possible declaration of independence by Taiwan carries within itself seeds of profound danger bilaterally and for the region. China is far too powerful and a very big player on the world stage to countenance with equanimity the slipping away of a part of her own territory. Indeed the US, whose power props up the Taiwan regime, has signed an agreement that there is only ONE CHINA, and the capital is Beijing. Indeed the whole world accepts that there is only one China. I recall that in 1963, when I was a member of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan at the UN, my boss Sir Zafrulla Khan, was the President of the United Nations General Assembly. I was his spokesman and that year like every year the China question was on the UN agenda. US Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson had a meeting with Sir Zafrulla and I was present. Ambassador Stevenson raised the question of membership of the People's Republic of China. Sir Zafrulla said that this was a procedural question and the moment China would have a simple majority within the UNGA, she would automatically assume her seat. Later that was what had happened and Taiwan had to quit.

Although China-Taiwan escalation has remained restricted within words, given China's past track record, any adventurism can be safely ruled out. In the case of Hong Kong a solution acceptable to all sides was found. It should be within the realm of possibility for the two parties to find a modus vivendi honourable to all.

Arshad-uz-Zaman is a former Ambassador.