By CGTN Media
CGTN, in collaboration with George Galloway, a UK Member of Parliament and leader of the Workers Party of Britain, presents “Taiwan Untangled,” a 21-minute documentary that offers a deep dive into the intricate Taiwan question, examining its history, current state, and future prospects.
George Galloway serves as the documentary’s narrator, bringing a distinct Western viewpoint. He asserts that Taiwan’s legal status has always been unequivocally clear: Taiwan is an integral part of China, a fact well-documented throughout history.
Zhong Xiangyu, an anti-imperialist rapper, echoes Galloway’s stance. He notes that many people in Taiwan acknowledge their mainland roots and do not deny them.
The documentary underscores the importance of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, which affirm that “there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.” Despite this acknowledgment, the U.S. maintains a stance of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan. Joseph Gerson, co-chair of the Committee for a SANE U.S.-China Policy, points out the contradiction: the U.S. professes commitment to the one-China policy while simultaneously undermining it.
Experts weigh in on the U.S.’s strategic ambiguity. Victor Gao, vice president at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), argues that the U.S. aims to prevent China’s global integration and development. Gao likens the situation to “asking brothers and sisters to fight amongst themselves.” The U.S. also involves its European allies in this approach, despite many Europeans’ reluctance to “de-couple” or “de-risk” from China, let alone engage in a conflict.
Statements from EU “Foreign Minister” Joseph Borrell about “freedom of navigation” in Taiwan, former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss’s visit to Taiwan, and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s labeling of China as “the greatest danger” contribute to escalating tensions. The documentary suggests that such actions heighten the risk of a nuclear conflict, with Taiwan caught in the middle.
Looking ahead, Wang Bingzhong, spokesperson of the New Party, believes the U.S. is pushing Taiwan to challenge the one-China principle, but China’s growing global influence serves as a deterrent. Chen Fuyu, director of the Cross-Straits Ben Post, calls for Taiwan to seize the opportunity presented by China’s peaceful rise for effective development.
The documentary also highlights the optimism among Taiwan’s youth. Taipei resident Chen Chongzhen envisions a peaceful future where Taiwan coexists harmoniously with the mainland, potentially moving towards reunification. Xiangyu shares this hopeful vision, wishing for Taiwan not to be used as a bargaining chip by foreign powers and advocating for increased good-faith interactions between Taiwan and the mainland.
As Taiwan charts its future, it faces an important decision: to either align with U.S. strategic interests or to explore the path of reunification with the mainland. The optimistic views of Chongzhen and Xiangyu point towards a hopeful direction, underscoring that the resolution of this issue should be determined by the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, without external influence.
