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 Hedged in diplomatic complexity

Updated: Nov 7

Guam governor recognizes Taiwan as a country




From the Publisher's Desk By Mar-Vic Cagurangan  

“Taiwan is a great ‘country,’” Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said during the Taiwan National Day celebration on Oct. 15. “It is very strong, resilient, innovative, very creative and very resourceful. A ‘country’ that is very welcoming.”


The democratic world generally agrees to all the adjectives describing Taiwan. It is indeed a “great economy,” ranking 21st in the World Bank’s list of “high-income” jurisdictions, with a GDP estimated at $828.66 billion. Based on the bank’s projection, Taiwan’s economy will cross the $1 trillion mark by 2027.


However, its fiddly political status presents an awkward posture in the diplomatic landscape, where Taiwan’s status as a “country” remains in limbo.


As a result of China’s strong-arm tactics, Taiwan’s diplomatic map has shrunk to 12— which does not include the United States.


As a U.S. territory with no foreign affairs autonomy, Guam is in no position to recognize Taiwan as a “country.” In 2009, then Gov. Felix Camacho stirred controversy when he took an official delegation to Taipei for what he referred to as a “state visit.”


The U.S. State Department dropped the word “country” from its travel advisory notice for Taiwan in July 2023. The travel advisory previously directed users to a “country information page” for Taiwan, but the website now lists a “Taiwan international travel information” page.


Washington has complex triangular relations with China and Taiwan. While adhering to the one-China policy, Washington maintains what policy experts call “strategic ambiguity” toward Taiwan.


he U.S. is one of Taiwan’s most important allies and its shield against Beijing’s diplomatic and military harassment. Their relations are sealed through the Taiwan Relations Act and the “Six Assurances,” which guarantee, among other things, that, “the United States would not consult with China in advance before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.”


At the same time, however, Washington skates on thin ice in its relations with Beijing, which it considers “the most challenging competitor” in the Indo-Pacific region.  In January, President Biden said the United States does not support Taiwan’s independence, but pledged to come to its defense in the event of China’s invasion.


Taiwan struggles to emerge from its alienation. Though a member of approximately 70 international organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Trade Organization, Taiwan has no seat in the United Nations.


While applauded for its successful control of the Covid-19 transmissions in the country, Taiwan was not called on to get on board with the global battle against the pandemic. Its aggressive net-zero initiatives addressing climate change have been generally overlooked as well.


On the home front, while Guam’s bond with Taiwan is anchored on their oft-repeated cultural connections, China presents a nexus to their geopolitical fates as well.


Home to 23 million people, Taiwan is located in what is known as the "first island chain,” which comprises U.S.-friendly territories, including Guam, that are crucial to U.S. foreign policy. In the event of conflict with China, Guam will be the launch pad for defense and missile response. Hence, their security fates are knotted together.


“Country” misnomer aside, Guam’s friendly relations with Taiwan offer comfort amid its international isolation.


“We are about being peaceful. We are a community of harmony,” the governor said. “We cannot survive as an island or a country if we are not peaceful and harmonious with each other.”

 


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