ONE CHINA, TWO SYSTEMS ?

ONE CHINA, TWO SYSTEMS ?

China lies when she says 'One China, two systems.' That is a clever trap for Taiwan into which she refuses to fall. After all the Taiwanese are of Chinese origin racially and know China's intentions well. Should they not know their own minds after all? Now that they have tasted democracy and human freedom, why would they give it up? If China uses force to unify Taiwan to mainland China politically, the costs for Taiwan could be catastrophic. It is a wait and see game, the cat and mouse syndrome where USA plays more than just umpire or deliberate mediator but actively participates to keep its Asia-Pacific naval interests alive.

It remains to be seen how long Taiwan can keep USA thus the beneficiary of the deal that would safeguard her own independence against an increasingly predatory China. From China' perspective there has never been any ambiguity that Taiwan is historically part and parcel of China and must remain so. Parting with Taiwan is an impossible proposition for China and, who knows, what means she will eventually adopt in the coming decades to invade and integrate the island to the mainland?

It is a brutal world after all, a selfish world of national interest, so often without ethical considerations at all influencing international affairs and realpolitik ruling decisions that govern the fate of millions and billions of innocent common people. The world is civilised, indeed !

Written by Sugata Bose