Taiwan has long been seen as important as a proxy for the battle for hegemony between China and the United States in the region. But Taiwan is significant for its own sake: as a thriving democracy, an indispensable link in global supply chains and the world’s 21st largest economy. [5] It has lured away seven of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners. For Xi’s China, annexing Taiwan is core to achieving national redemption and the ‘Chinese dream’ — Xi’s agenda for “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era”. Annexing Taiwan would give Beijing effective control over some of the world’s most cutting-edge technologies, contained inside private companies built over many years by Taiwan’s entrepreneurs.

Source: Taipei Times January 07, 2020 01:41 UTC