How far will the US and EU go to defend Taiwan?
China condemns ‘provocative’ visits by United States and European Union delegations to self-ruled island.
Taiwan’s status is a politically sensitive issue.
The island off the coast of China has its own president, a democratically-elected government and a strong economy.
However, Beijing regards it as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.
China has condemned the United States and the European Union for what it calls provocative visits to the island.
Members of the US Congress and the European Parliament have made high-profile visits to Taiwan in the past week amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
So what is behind the increasing interest from the West? And how far will they go to defend the island?
Presenter: Sami Zeidan
Guests:
Brian Hioe – Writer and founder of New Bloom Magazine
Robert Kelly – Professor of political science and diplomacy at Pusan National University
Victor Gao – Chair professor at Soochow University