“One Country, Two Systems,” Why China’s Taiwan Stance has Become Much More Aggressive

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By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

China’s more aggressive posture toward Taiwan may reflect a shift from its previous thought that re-unification could become a “one country, two systems,” status quo, according to the Pentagon’s recently published China report.

As opposed to considering the possibility that Taiwan’s basic societal structure could stay “in-tact” in the event of unification, Chinese leaders are now more likely to favor a much more forceful power position including large-scale domination of Taiwan and its institutions.

“PRC leaders may perceive a closing window of opportunity to subjugate Taiwan under the pretenses of Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework,” DoD’s 2021 “Report on Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China” states.

One Country, Two Systems

The Pentagon report says the concept of “one country, two systems” was explained in 2019 by Chinese leaders. The idea was that China-Taiwan unification could entail the “protection” of Taiwan’s social system, way of life, private property, religious beliefs, and “lawful rights and interests,” provided the PRC’s “sovereignty, security, and development interests,” are ensured.

Building upon this idea, Chinese leaders called for “Cross-Strait” talks as recently as last year, the report says. The report says more recent public opinion polls in Taiwan reveal its citizens are moving away from a more supportive stance toward Beijing is part of the reason for the change.