Taiwan and China are part of globalization

The tension between Taiwan and China is a charged issue that could have major global consequences. Sweden, like many other countries, follows the USA's "one-China policy", which recognizes the People's Republic of China but not Taiwan as an independent state, although at the same time it maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan. China, on the other hand, claims that the "one-China policy" and their own "one-China principle" are equivalent, which means that Taiwan is a Chinese province. But this claim is disputed and not widely accepted by the outside world.

The sunflower movement creates tension

Taiwanese movements such as the Sunflower Movement have strongly challenged this view and demanded recognition of Taiwan's de facto independence. The movement arose as a protest against a trade agreement between Taiwan and China, arguing that Taiwan already functions as a sovereign state. The journal *New Bloom* describes the strategic ambiguity of the "one-China policy" as a deliberate way to avoid conflict with China.

The underlying idea behind the "one-China policy" is to maintain good relations with the economic superpower China and to reduce the risk of a confrontation. The USA's initiative for this policy means that countries like Sweden are reluctant to deviate from the line on their own. At the same time, this policy offers some room for maneuver, especially regarding cooperation with Taiwan, an issue that may need to be raised on the political agenda.

Increased imbalance between China and Taiwan

In recent decades, relations between China and Taiwan have become more strained. The increasingly fierce conflict between the US and China has caused China to increase pressure on Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan's democratization and increased demands for independence have created a greater distance between the countries.

Worst case scenario

The worst-case scenario would be a military attack by China against Taiwan, which could draw the US in and lead to a global crisis. While an invasion may seem unlikely in the short term, its consequences would be catastrophic. In addition, the Russian attack on Ukraine has strengthened Taiwan's fears of being subjected to a similar aggression. This has led to Taiwan supporting Ukraine both humanitarianly and by sending volunteer soldiers.

Books on the subject

Several current books highlight the issue, among them “The struggle for Taiwan” by Jonas Parello-Plesner, which addresses Taiwan's changing identity and how it affects the relationship with China. Another book, “The Struggle for Taiwan” by Sulmaan Wasif Khan, shows how nationalism in China and growing tension with the US are increasing the risk of conflict.

That Sweden has so far stuck to a restrained line in its relations with Taiwan can be questioned, especially in light of how other countries have chosen to act. Given the global implications of a conflict in the region, it is an issue that deserves more attention.

Read more at Dagens Arena and follow developments in the relationship between China and Taiwan.

The Taiwan situation part of the world tensions

The tense situation in Taiwan is included in the conflict between the United States and China, together with Russia. This is not just about ideological or economic differences but about the global struggle for who will dominate the world stage. This fight risks making everyone a loser. We must instead break this pattern by introducing progressive taxation, use green Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and re-industrialize the West, initially with the help of tariffs. At the same time, we need to industrialize and implement a green transition throughout the world, and create a new global order similar to Bretton Woods. The goal is for countries to stop competing to be the world's low income earner, where the most vulnerable are exposed to constant economic pressures.

Competition is warfare not always by peaceful means

This constant competition between countries is nothing more than a form of economic warfare, which too often turns into actual military conflicts. Such a scenario could lead to the deindustrialized West—the result of the short-term greed of capitalists—no longer have the capacity to win future conflicts. But this is not inevitable; we have the opportunity to create a world where everyone has a place and a chance to contribute to the common good.

The big companies cooperate rather than compete for the benefit of the rich

Ending destructive competition is not a utopia either. Already today, we see how the world's major companies merge to reduce competition, with the effect that products and services become more expensive without improving quality. This is one of the reasons for the so-called greedflation after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. If we can cooperate to benefit the interests of a few, we can also choose to cooperate to build a more just world.

Cooperation and care man's evolutionary advantage

History shows that humanity's greatest achievements have come through cooperation—by taking care of each other, even those who are weaker or do not fit into a strict productivity standard. Since we started excluding those who are not high achievers or conformists from the economy and working life, productivity in the West has declined. Bringing everyone back into production and creating decent working conditions will not only strengthen our communities but also ensure a sustainable future. We must create a world where cooperation and care are the cornerstones, not competition and exclusion.