China puts squeeze on Taiwan

Sino-Taiwanese tensions are rising and the effects have begun to spread, so much so that they have started to complicate China’s relationship with the United States. Over the past month, China has redoubled its efforts to weaken Taiwan’s ties with diplomatic allies and defense partners while also tempering its own economic and diplomatic involvement with the newly elected Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei. Beijing’s push to isolate Taiwan suggests that China thinks its approach toward Taipei over the past decade is becoming less effective, particularly in light of a potential shift in US policy as Washington prepares to inaugurate a new president. This has moved Taiwan to the center of Beijing’s foreign policy agenda, a shift that the Dec. 2 phone call between US President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has given added weight.

Analysis