Trump-Xi Summit: Taiwan Tension Rises

0:00On April 29, President Trump and President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Beijing next month, and word is China plans to push hard on the Taiwan. Independence issue during the summit. Taiwan, formerly the Republic of China, has a complex past once called Formosa, ruled by Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese before ending up with the Nationalists after World War II. In 1949, they fled there from the Communists on the mainland. Fast forward, and Taiwan runs its own show with elections, a military, passports, and currency, making it de facto independent. But only 12 small nations recognize it formally, after Beijing grabbed the U.N. China seat in 1971. The U.S. cut official ties in 1979, but still arms Taiwan for defense under its one China policy. Most Taiwanese want the status quo, per poles. No rush to declare full independence, which would need a tough constitutional change with 75% parliamentary approval.

1:01President Leiching Te says the two China's aren't subordinate, Erking Beijing, who offers a one country two systems deal like Hong Kong, but no major party vites. China claims U.N. Resolution 2758 proves Taiwan's theirs, though Taipei and the U.S. call that a stretch. Beijing passed the anti-succession law in 2005, greenlighting force if peaceful reunification fails. This summit could heat things up, but for now, Taiwan keeps balancing that tightrope between autonomy and avoiding a clash. You've been listening to Global News today, AI-powered Global Coverage.