Taiwan seems jittery amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict—Here’s why

• Taiwan has reportedly tightened its security fearing from Chinese troops.
• Taiwan is nervous of being in the same spot as Ukraine.
• Although Taiwan considers itself as an independent nation, China views self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and aspires to seize the island one day.

After Russia’s declaration of war on Ukraine, Taiwan has reportedly tightened its security and increased surveillance supposedly fearing Chinese troops entering its territory, and here’s why.

Why is Taiwan nervous about the Ukraine situation?

Taiwan is nervous of being in the same spot as Ukraine. This comes as Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has reportedly ordered Taiwan’s military to increase surveillance and be on alert in case of any intervention by an ‘outside force’ amid the Ukraine crisis.

The country is jittery that Beijing may take advantage of a distracted west (western countries that are putting pressure on Russia to not escalate the war) to ramp up pressure on the island.

Reportedly, Beijing has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, as she rejects the stance that Taiwan is Chinese territory.

Brief history on Taiwan and China

Taiwan is an island located roughly 100 miles from the coast of southeast China that sees itself as an independent country, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leader. Both the regions split after World War II when the Chinese Communist Party won a conflict with nationalist government forces in 1949 after which the nationalist party fled to nearby Taiwan.

Although Taiwan considers itself as an independent nation, China views self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and aspires to seize the island one day. Hence since 1949, Taiwan has been under the threat of Chinese invasion.

Commenting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Beijing’s government officials dismissed any link between the issues of Ukraine and Taiwan and said "Taiwan is not Ukraine," and it has been “an inalienable part of China. This is an indisputable legal and historical fact."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently said that if Western nations failed to fulfill their promises to support Ukraine's independence, it would have damaging consequences worldwide, including for Taiwan.

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