This was an article written during BRAMUN 2023 with the perspective of Kyodo News on the discussions of the Security Council Committee.
During the Security Council Committee, while addressing the three resolutions written by the delegates – more specifically, China's resolution, written together with Thailand and Negara Brunei Darussalam – it was noticed that Taiwan was listed as a country. However, Taiwan, which has been fighting for its independence for years, as far as the whole world knows (except for China apparently), is still considered part of China’s territory. Taiwan has a high degree of local political and economic autonomy: The Republic of Taiwan was founded through the exile of oppositionists to the Chinese communist government.
The Republic of Taiwan is one of the four Asian Tigers, the group of territories in East and Southeast Asia that experienced a rapid process of economic and industrial growth from the second half of the 20th century onwards; they are Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The local economy is one of the most developed in all of Asia.
Taiwan has an excellent transportation and communication infrastructure, great freedom of expression and a cultural acceptance to multiculturalism. Foreign investment, mainly from Japan, the expansion of internal infrastructure and the professional qualification of its workforce are the main factors that provided the attraction of transnational industries and the economic progress observed in the Asian Tigers.
Taiwan has been trying to conquer its independence for years, and recently China has been talking addressing the topic constantly. Days after China started military activities near the Island, the Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian stated that the activities were "necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security". "They are a solemn response to external interference and provocations by 'Taiwan independence' forces," he added. "We warn those 'Taiwan independence' elements - those who play with fire will burn themselves, and Taiwan independence means war." The Asian country does not have an extended history of expeditionary military confrontation; however, under Xi Jinping's leadership, China has been considering the use of the military force to prevent any move that could lead to a formal independence state of Taiwan. President Tsai, the current president of the Republic of Taiwan, on the other hand, has repeatedly said that Taiwan is already an independent state, making any formal declaration unnecessary.
With so much tension and such a turbulent past, China, by unwittingly recognizing Taiwan as a country, shows extreme neglect of the matter. Taiwan is constantly being threatened and suffering over the issue, so this mistake should not be treated as simply a slip up. After Taiwan pointed out the written mistake in the subclause where the republic was acknowledged as a country, China had a friendly amendment to strike the clause.
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