It would seem that the episode of world interest of the visit of Mrs. Pelosi, president of the House of Representatives of the United States, to Taipei has only two actors: China and the United States. And the reality is that in this disagreement that involves the two powers, a key element and scorned by strategists and political scientists is the people of Taiwan.
Let’s put some items on the table.
The reality is that the United States was the first to take a position on Taiwan when in 1979 it dropped Taipei and chose an alliance with Beijing. Washington pulled the rug from under the island’s feet. Since January 1980 their mutual defense commitment ceased to exist. From then to this part, Taiwan was isolated on the international stage and the population experienced within it a defining pressure to transform the country into an economic miracle and, moreover, become one of the most vibrant democracies in Asia. Both goals were achieved in a relatively short time.
Taiwan’s economy is a highly developed market economy. It is the eighth largest country in Asia and the 18th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity, which allows it to be included in the group of advanced economies by the International Monetary Fund. It is also classified within the group of high-income economies by the World Bank. Its GDP per capita -today of 24,800 dollars- ranks 25th in the world. The key element of its economic success has been its industrialization strategy based on the production of high value-added products and the constant maintenance and improvement of their quality.
With barely 23 million inhabitants, almost non-existent inflation (1.2%), a very low unemployment rate (3.9%) and without major social fractures since barely 1.5% of the citizens are below the poverty, its strength today lies in its colossal export potential and the position it has achieved in the world for the production and export of telecommunications equipment and parts, integrated circuits and robots for industrial production. One figure to remember is that the small island of 36,000 square kilometers produces 63% of the planet’s semiconductors.
The foregoing explains why China’s interest in Taiwan is not capricious nor does it respond to a principled position of territorial sovereignty that is expressed in its concept of “one China”. There is much more than that in the effort to exercise control over its variables.
The Chinese military reaction to the US challenge of Mrs. Pelosi’s visit goes much further than emphasizing who exercises a military strength in the region. In addition to the flagrant demonstration of armed capacity, the movements have been aimed at demonstrating that, if necessary, China will use the card of a commercial blockade that will impact the entire globe. The message, more than for Washington, has been for Taipei, which turns out to be the weak part of the equation.
China leaves no room for doubt: it is not in its plans to invade Taiwan. The Asian giant will proceed to block the exporting power in all fields without having to fire a shot.
