For decades, the relationship between Taiwan and China has been a touchy subject that many world leaders prefer to sidestep—even Taiwan’s own presidents. However, this is not the case for the island’s new president, who decided to address the elephant in the room head-on.
Here’s the crux of the matter: the Republic of China (ROC)—Taiwan’s official name—was established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. On the other hand, the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—China’s official name—was founded in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of the mainland. So, the ROC is over a century old, while the PRC is much younger.
Therefore, President Lai Ching-te raised the question during Taiwan’s National Day celebrations: Why does the PRC keep trying to claim sovereignty over the ROC?
Many leaders and historians have found this claim puzzling, but only a few have openly challenged it.
“Our nearest neighbor, the People’s Republic of China, just celebrated its 75th birthday on Oct. 1,“ Lai said at an event watched live by millions on Oct. 5. ”In a few days, the Republic of China will celebrate its 113th birthday. Therefore, in terms of age, it is absolutely impossible for the PRC to be the ROC people’s ‘motherland.’
“On the contrary, the ROC may be the ‘motherland’ of those mainland Chinese who are over 75 years old,” Lai added.
He reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty again on Oct. 10 that the PRC “has no right to represent Taiwan” and its people.
Under pressure from the CCP, Taiwan has often avoided emphasizing its official name to prevent escalating tensions. However, some historians argue that the ROC remains the rightful government of China—a major sticking point for Beijing.
Lai’s bold speeches are changing the narrative. By openly highlighting Taiwan’s historical legacy and official name, he’s urging the CCP to respect Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Taiwan’s importance has surged in recent years, both politically and economically. The island produces over 90 percent of the world’s high-grade semiconductors, essential for modern technology, making its security a global priority.
With the CCP challenging the global order, the United States and its allies see Taiwan as a key partner in maintaining stability and technological leadership. Washington has been expanding the Quad, AUKUS, and other security mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific, with countries like Japan, South Korea, and Canada joining in—and even NATO may get involved. The focus is on countering the CCP, with Taiwan playing a crucial role in these alliances, though not always publicly mentioned.
In a video address on Sept. 24 at the Concordia Summit in New York City, Lai pointed out that the Chinese regime has been distorting the interpretation of United Nations Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from participating in the U.N. system and other international forums when, in fact, the Resolution did not address the issue of Taiwan or the status of the ROC.
Resolution 2758 was passed in 1971, recognizing the PRC as China’s sole U.N. representative, replacing the ROC.
For decades, China has leveraged international and domestic laws to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, weakening its global recognition without direct military conflict. For years, this legal warfare campaign seemed to go unnoticed by Taiwan’s allies. But that’s now changing. Since 1971, Washington has consistently opposed Beijing’s attempts to redefine Resolution 2758. Recently, other nations have begun to follow suit.
Taiwan’s international standing was greatly diminished after the United States officially switched diplomatic recognition from the ROC to the PRC in 1979.
The island’s most perilous period was probably in the 1980s and 1990s when U.S. arms sales to Taiwan essentially stopped, and the United States shifted to military cooperation with the CCP, including collaborations in military technology. During this risky time, the CCP, reliant on U.S. support for economic growth, stepped back from its goal of unifying Taiwan by force, providing a temporary respite.
By the late 1990s, the CCP had shifted to softer tactics, using economic pressure and ongoing efforts to suppress Taiwan’s international presence.
Meanwhile, the contrast between the two governments is stark. After moving to Taiwan, the ROC became a democracy while the PRC under the CCP remained an autocratic state focused on maintaining control.
With the recent global focus on countering the CCP’s influence, Taiwan’s strategic importance has been reevaluated. The combination of Taiwan’s critical role in global technology, Lai’s bold leadership, and increasing support from allies suggests that Taiwan may indeed be entering its best decade on the international stage.
