La battaglia diplomatica nello stretto di Taiwan all'ombra di Washington

Onnis Barbara

2024-01-01

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Abstract

The article aims to retrace the different phases that have marked the relations between the ‘two Chinas’ and the factors that have determined what appears to be a real ‘diplomatic battle to the last state.’ Indeed, the ROC (Taiwan) is currently recognized by only 12 states, primarily small and irrelevant on a geopolitical level, with the only exception being the Holy See. Although the diplomatic issue between the two Chinas was formally settled with the passage of UNGA Resolution 2758 on 25th October 1971 and President Nixon’s visit to mainland China in February 1972, which paved the way for the formal initiation of diplomatic relations between Beijing and Washington in January 1979, the issue was far from resolved. The US’s policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ over Taiwan was one of the factors that helped keep tension in theTaiwan Strait high despite the three declarations committing the American government to respect the ‘one China policy.’ Indeed, in the diplomatic battle between the ‘two Chinas,’ the US variable has played (and continues to play) a crucially important role, complicating Beijing’s plans to reunify once and for all what it considers a ‘rebel island’ and at the same time reinvigorating the spirit of independence of Taiwan.