COMMENT | Do business only with Uncle Beijing

COMMENT | China has quite effectively isolated Taiwan from the world stage in its relentless drive to eventually take over the island by force, if necessary.

At one time, Taiwan occupied the China seat in the United Nations and enjoyed diplomatic ties and recognition with several UN member nations. 

Then it had to give up its hot seat to China after the UN recognised the Chinese Communist Party’s legitimate claim to being the sole representative government of mainland China.

From then on, the tide turned against Taiwan as many nations severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in favour of China.

Today, only 12 countries recognise the island republic. Even this handful of largely poor countries may soon fall into China’s orbit if Beijing comes knocking on their doors with its business cases bulging with multi-billion yuan contracts.

Malaysia, too, has jumped on the bandwagon, embracing only mainland China. The Middle Kingdom has become the brightest global star in the political firmament and hence, it pays to talk business with its roving leaders. 

The country’s sheer physical size and breathtaking economic and technological growth can convince you that you can bet all your money on China and achieve the same level of dizzying prosperity.

Now, China is striding around the world clinching business deals with one country after another and, at the same time, squeezing Taiwan out of the picture. Want to do business with Beijing? Then make sure you dump Taiwan.

A country in its own right

But the Republic of China or Chinese Taipei cannot simply disappear from the community of nations. It is home to more than 20 million people, has a vibrant economy, is one of the world’s top computer technology producers, and more importantly, it thrives on democracy.

Over the decades, Taiwan has forged strong economic ties with Malaysia, becoming Malaysia’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2021, despite not having diplomatic ties.

Last year alone, the volume of Taiwan’s trade with Malaysia totalled a hefty US$25 billion (RM118 billion). This is good money but not good politics for China, which wants you to have nothing to do with the “renegade” island.

China’s trade with Malaysia is also impressive: it chalked up total trade worth about RM487 billion (US$103 billion) in 2022. And there are more mouth-watering goodies in the pipeline.

If trade with China keeps increasing astronomically, will Malaysia take the drastic step of completely cutting off all business relations with Taiwan? Will it shut down all Taiwanese companies in Malaysia? Will it stop the flow of Taiwanese tourists to Malaysia?

China may not exert direct pressure on Putrajaya to drive out Taiwanese businesses in Malaysia but, through its booming trade, political muscle, and awesome military strength, it can use its influence to dictate terms.

China is on a roll and Taiwan is daily living under the shadow of an immediate invasion if it declares itself an independent country.

Malaysia has already made known it will not support an independence movement by Taiwan and will abide by the “One China” policy. The country certainly will not want to jeopardise its special relationship with Beijing based on a long historical association.

Presumably, if millions of Taiwanese die in a nuclear holocaust following an invasion, it will be business as usual in Malaysia. After all, this puny island is a territory of mainland China and not a country. Let the behemoth swallow it up. My business is only with Uncle Beijing.

But Taiwan has been flourishing for decades with its highly developed free-market economy, so much so that it is regarded as an economic powerhouse in its own right. This economic miracle could only have been achieved by a state, a nation, a country - and not a territory.

PHLIP RODRIGUES is a retired journalist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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