Tension between China and Taiwan has increased since 2016. Many worried that Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine could embolden Beijing leaders to try a similar move. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Dr. T.Y. Wang, University Professor and chair of Illinois State’s Department of Politics and Government, analyzed the threat from the Communist government of China to the democratic Taiwan. “For many Chinese and the Communist government, the focus on erasing ‘the Century of Humiliation’ is to protect territorial integrity. Taiwan symbolizes the last piece of this puzzle after the handover of Hong Kong (from Britain) and Macau (from Portugal),” Wang said.
Despite the rising tension, Wang does not believe China’s military invasion of Taiwan is imminent. The Beijing government is likely to use other means such as information warfare, economic statecraft, and diplomatic isolation to place pressure on Taipei.
