The United States' one-China policy is a diplomatic dodge.

With a far stronger military and vastly more people than Taiwan, China has long tried to pressure the international community into helping it isolate the island.

Since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, two countries have called themselves by the same name: China.

The communists, who won that brutal war, formed the People's Republic of China. The nationalists, who retreated to Taiwan, declared Taipei would be the temporary capital of the Republic of China.

The People's Republic proved to be a brutal tyranny, overseeing the deaths of tens of millions through execution, imprisonment and starvation. The Republic of China has fostered liberal ideals, with elections and free speech, while creating one of the world's most vibrant economies.

The U.S. has acknowledged a one-China policy, accepting that only one sovereign state can legitimately be called "China." But this is a diplomatic dodge since both the communists and nationalists claim this particular status.

Unsurprisingly, the relationship between China and Taiwan has been uneasy for nearly 70 years. There have been periods of relative calm set off against increasing tensions. Of late, China seems back to bullying the island.

It recently demanded all international airlines, including those based in the U.S., stop referring to Taiwan as a separate country. It is pressing other businesses, such as the Marriott hotel chain, to do the same.

Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, tweeted on May 6: "We call on all businesses to resist #China's efforts to mischaracterize #Taiwan."

China's reaction was predictable. "Whatever the U.S. says will never change the objective fact that there is only one China in the world," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement, "and the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions are an inalienable part of China's territory."

Still, the two Chinas continue to maintain an odd and fragile relationship.

On the one hand, trade between the two hit $198.31 billion in 2014. China accounted for 30 percent of Taiwan's total trade, and the interactions greatly benefited both.

On the other hand, China has deployed missiles on the Taiwan Strait and "continues to modernize the bulk of its military capabilities," while Taiwan "continues to purchase weapons, primarily from the United States," to defend itself.

A difficult status quo prevails, with China gradually forcing Taiwan from the world stage. But for decades, U.S. presidents, even as they have grown closer to China, have made it clear they stand behind Taiwan.

There is no sign that President Donald Trump is about to change that approach.


GateHouse Media