Doubts on one China policy

MIXED VIEWS: TAIWANESE ARE DIVIDED ABOUT ISLAND NATION MERGING WITH MAINLAND

- Eric Naki

Citizens fear that Beijing will destroy its democracy if it takes over.

People in Taiwan are divided over whether China and Taiwan should be united and become one country, but they are united on one issue to let their democracy stay.

Political analyst Prof Dirk Kotzé said it was not surprising that some Taiwanese citizens fear the merging of the two nations could not turn out well for them because of the Hong Kong experience, where China scrapped the two-systems policy when it took over.

Kotzé, from the University of South Africa's political sciences department, said Taiwan was in a quandary because it remained deeply isolated diplomatically, while it hoped for US support if attacked by mainland China.

But its technology-based economy is its global trump card for economic survival although the semiconductor industry also interested China.

Kotzé said Beijing put massive pressure on many countries, including South Africa, to isolate Taiwan, which is why Eswatini is the only country that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan in Africa.

Over the years, Taiwanese state officials have expressed fears that China's plan to take over and control Taiwan would ultimately destroy its democracy.

Politicians in Taipei believe that China would not only end democracy in Taiwan, but that Beijing would impose its dictatorship on the island nation.