Don’t Forget to Keep an Eye on the Taiwan Strait

Smoke billows during Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza City on Oct. 12, 2023. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

Will Taiwan be the one that makes up an ugly horrifying trifecta?

That is the question on many peoples’ minds as another brutal conflict erupts before our eyes on the world scene. And if it isn’t, it needs to be.

In recent times, we have seen the brutality of Russian forces seeking to conquer the Ukrainian people, exposing the West as less than fully committed to the defence of a fellow democracy.

We witness Iran and other dictatorial regimes backing the Russian invasion. Beijing’s muted response was both expected and exceptionally telling.

More recently, we have seen the depravity of Hamas with its incursions into Israel leaving even the much-vaunted Israeli intelligence community gasping and grappling for an explanation.

The response of many countries has been strong and unequivocal, although the Australian foreign minister’s response urging “restraint on both sides” was heard in disbelief by the public.

The only genuine democracy in the Middle East is attacked by an organisation that Australia has itself officially labelled as a terrorist organisation and that was Australia’s response?

Thankfully it wasn’t, given the prime minister’s much stronger intervention backing in Israel.

More telling is the official Chinese news emphasising the Israeli bombing of Gaza and not so much the Hamas invasion and atrocities.

However, not to miss an opportunity, Washington’s “malevolent interference” in the Middle East gets an extraordinary airing leaving only the most gullible in any doubt as to which side China’s communists would take.

Artillery shells are lined up next to an armoured vehicle as Israeli soldiers take positions near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Oct. 9, 2023. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Presented with a choice between a democracy and a dictatorship, the Chinese dictatorship will always side with oppression.

For Russia, its position is more vexing, but its close ties with Iran and its need for Iranian drones in Ukraine will leave Russia in an extremely difficult position given its attempts to have a nuanced position.

In all this turmoil with the freedom-loving democracies being confronted at various levels and theatres around the world, the focus has disconcertingly shifted away from the bullying and air and sea space violations from Beijing against its neighbours—in particular Taiwan.

Attention has also shifted away from China’s dictatorship corruptly funding programs for Pacific Island governments to enable ports and other facilities to be established to assist its aggressive ambitions.

Australia, Taiwan Share Common Interests

While the freedom-loving countries of the world need to back in the Ukrainian and Israeli people, they cannot take their collective eyes off the ever-growing threat of the Chinese communist dictatorship to Taiwan and the general region.

If the freedom-loving countries of the world dilute their attention they may be left as flat-footed as the Israelis.

With a faltering economy and an ever-growing questioning of the Chinese regime’s legitimacy internally, an appeal to a misguided sense of nationalism with a call to arms may provide a reset for the communist regime.

That spells a threat of gigantic proportions not only for the Taiwanese people but the whole region including Australia.

Air Force soldiers prepare to load U.S. made Harpoon AGM-84 anti ship missiles in front of an F-16V fighter jet during a drill at Hualien Air Force base, in Hualien County, Taiwan, on Aug. 17, 2022. Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

Japan and its allies, along with Australia, could not stand by.

If a country as far removed as Ukraine (12,975 kilometres or 8,062 miles) has captured Australia’s rightful interest as a democracy worthy of support in military and other forms of assistance, then Taiwan’s potential plight must entice twice the interest and support, as it is so much closer (5,600 kilometres).

In all these considerations, Australia has a duty to stand on the side of freedom, democracy, and liberty.

While trade with China is important for Australia’s well-being, it can never be allowed to trump the more important considerations of human rights and democracy.

Allowing Australian resources to power a rejuvenating China made sense at the time, as the Chinese dictatorship was seen to be embarking on a program of freedom and liberalisation. To assist was deemed to be a good thing by the world.

Now that Beijing has exposed its Stalinist tendencies it is high time for a strategic re-think.

Re-calibration and vigilance in Australia’s part of the world are more important than ever. The Chinese dictatorship should be left in no doubt that Taiwan is our friend, sharing a similar population size, and even more importantly, a similar set of universal values for which past generations of Australians have willingly fought for around the world.

To avert a third major world conflict, especially in our region, requires determined vigilance and determination.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.