Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of five Chinese warships near its territorial waters as of 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the situation and responded.
MND posted on
On Monday also, MND had detected five Chinese warships near Taiwan.
Historical context of the China–Taiwan dispute
China’s claim to Taiwan is a complex issue, based on historical, political and legal arguments. Beijing says Taiwan is an integral part of China, and this view is enshrined in national policy, supported by domestic laws and international statements.
However, Taiwan maintains its own identity, and operates independently with its own government, military, and economy. The status of Taiwan is a subject of significant international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law.
China’s claim to Taiwan dates back to the Qing dynasty’s annexation of Taiwan in 1683, when they defeated the Ming loyalist Koxinga. However, Taiwan remained a neglected territory under limited control of the Qing. The significant change occurred when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895, making Taiwan a colony of Japan for 50 years. After Japan’s defeat in the war, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, but the transfer of sovereignty did not occur formally.
The Chinese Civil War in 1949 resulted in the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in China, while the Republic of China (ROC) took refuge in Taiwan and claimed rule over China. This gave rise to dual sovereignty claims: for the PRC over the mainland and for the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan functioned as a de facto independent state, but avoided declaring formal independence in order to avoid military conflict with the PRC.
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