Geopolitical tensions in Asia: what does Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan mean?

Relations between China and Taiwan are a source of constant tension between Washington and Beijing. The latest episode of this confrontation is the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taipei. China considers this trip a provocation, and for the United States – a demonstration of “firm support.” What is expected from this visit? RPP Noticias consulted with experts on this diplomatic incident.

Norbert Barrett, Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) and Doctor of United States History believes that relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years. He considered that relations between the two countries had not changed significantly, despite the fact that new President Joe Biden entered the United States.

On October 1, 1949, Communist leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. China, after defeating the Nationalists in the four-year civil war that erupted after World War II.

Nationalist troops led by Chiang Kai-shek retreat to Taiwan and on December 7, they form a government that they see as a continuation of the Republic of China, founded after the fall of the Empire in 1911.

political tension

“China He did not refuse to restore this territory. USA was the guarantor of the protection of the specified territory. The Chinese do not see this with a kind eye. They did not refuse his return. If tomorrow the Chinese decide to follow the example of the Russians and say that ‘Taiwan has always been a part Chinawe are going to take back the territory that has always been ours, a nuclear war can be unleashed,” Barreto said.

The internationalist said now was not the time for this visit, although he also wondered if the US might be taken as a sign of weakness. “The Chinese may take this as a provocation, but, in turn, the US may say that Taiwan it is a sovereign country with which it maintains long-standing friendly relations,” he said.

Barreto also said that the world is in a process of transition that has the dominant force of the 20th century, the United States, but that it is going through a process of “impersonation” that would China.

“Historically, when these processes took place, they were rarely peaceful. This would make us think that eventually there will be conflict between China and the United States. I hope this doesn’t happen,” he said.

“We are living in dangerous, stressful times because the international order is changing. Russia seeks to determine the position of greater influence. The US is trying not to lose its dominant position, the Chinese are rising up and looking for space and influence along with their economic and military power,” he added.

Economic aspects

In its turn, Charles Aquinoeconomist specializing in the Asia-Pacific region, said that the relationship between China D USA He is very strong commercially. “The US buys $500,000 a year from China. The US has a large trade deficit and buys more from China than it sells to it. […] Trump said that this large trade deficit is because China is closing its market, it is not allowing American goods to enter its country, and quite a lot of what China exports is because these Chinese goods are cheap, because the government subsidizes their companies. This is a very big relationship, but the US is unhappy there,” he explained.

Another aspect of the trade arena is that the US is one of the big investors in China. “In the beginning they used cheap labor. The companies were going to assemble the products, but now they are for China’s large domestic market. There is a growing middle class in China,” Aquino said.

The economist also stated that China is the main trading partner Taiwandespite these complicated relationships that both countries have. “Most of what Taiwan buys in the world, 30% comes from China. China is also a major market for Taiwanese exports. There are many Taiwanese companies in China. The largest is TOPCon,” he said.

The economic repercussions of these political deadlocks between powers can take place. The Economist said China imposed economic sanctions against Taiwan. Taiwan exported nearly $800 million worth of fruits and other food products last year alone, but imports have been banned since the sanctions.

“The problem is that Taiwan manufactures many parts that are sent to China for assembly. If this escalates, China’s sanctions on Taiwan will begin to tighten, and Taiwan will do something similar. It can affect the world as a whole,” he said.

Former secretary-general of the presidential administration, Bruno Pacheco, is providing information to verify the testimony of businesswoman Karelim Lopez, their lawyer Cesar Nakazaki said.