For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has pushed the tired claim that is an inseparable part of and that the U.S. has somehow pledged to endorse this fantasy. But this argument falls apart under even the slightest scrutiny. It has no real historical, legal, or factual legitimacy.
The CCP鈥檚 justification for its aggression toward is nothing more than smoke and mirrors 鈥� held up by brute force, propaganda and diplomatic intimidation.
Despite constant drumbeat about being a 鈥渞enegade province,鈥� the truth is simple: The People鈥檚 has never ruled . Not for a single day.
Since 1949, has operated under the governance of the (ROC), commonly known as . The CCP has never controlled its land, its people or its institutions.
And the so-called 鈥� independence movement鈥� that rails against? It鈥檚 a bogeyman created to justify its own expansionist ambitions.
government 鈥� across all political lines 鈥� has consistently upheld that is a fully functioning, self-governing, democratic nation. Taipei doesn鈥檛 need to declare independence because it already is an independent state: the in . With an elected leadership, a thriving economy and a military that will defend its sovereignty, is a nation in every meaningful sense, no matter how much fumes about it.
The CCP likes to claim that Washington supports its 鈥淥ne-China Principle鈥� through what are known as 鈥淭he Three Communiques.鈥� But that鈥檚 just not true. Washington has only ever acknowledged that makes this claim 鈥� it has never agreed with it.
The U.S. position remains firmly rooted in the Taiwan Relations Act and 鈥淪ix Assurances鈥� given to Taipei, which explicitly reject any recognition of Chinese sovereignty over . These policies also affirm America鈥檚 commitment to defense.
The message is clear: future must be determined peacefully, through mutual agreement, and without coercion. If tries to take by force, it will be violating international norms and threatening global stability.
To justify its claim, plays fast and loose with history, pointing to past Chinese dynasties as proof that belongs to . But history doesn鈥檛 work that way.
past rulers have included the Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and, at times, certain Chinese regimes. If ancient history were the standard for sovereignty, would have to answer for its own long periods of foreign rule by the Mongols and Manchus.
The modern world defines sovereignty based on international law and self-determination 鈥� not cherry-picked historical claims. And 23 million citizens have made their stance abundantly clear: They reject CCP rule.
also contends that its pursuit of is about protecting territorial integrity, but its own actions betray this claim. Since 1949, has voluntarily ceded vast swaths of land to other ideologically aligned nations, including communist Russia and Mongolia, without making a fuss.
If territorial unity were really the goal, why didn鈥檛 fight for those lands? The truth is, the CCP鈥檚 obsession isn鈥檛 about sovereignty.
own diplomatic history is riddled with contradictions. It refuses to acknowledge 鈥淥ne , One ,鈥� yet it had no problem recognizing both East and West Germany. It ignored its impoverished ally North Korea to recognize South Korea in 1992. These inconsistencies reveal the CCP鈥檚 foreign policy for what it is: sheer opportunism.
At its core, aggression toward Taiwan isn鈥檛 about national unity 鈥� it鈥檚 about undermining the U.S. and the global democratic order. The CCP views itself as locked in an ideological battle with the free world, with America as its main adversary. , a thriving democracy, a crucial player in global commerce and tech revolution, and a key U.S. partner, stands as a direct challenge to authoritarian model. That鈥檚 why the CCP is so determined to bring it under control.
Time and again, the CCP has deliberately escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait to pressure the U.S. and boost its own global influence.
From the artillery bombardments of Taiwan-controlled islands in the 1950s to the 1995-96 missile crisis and today鈥檚 near-daily military provocations, has repeatedly tested Washington鈥檚 resolve. Each crisis has had the same goal: to undermine U.S. credibility and weaken its commitment to and the broader democratic order in Asia.
Today, is still playing the same game 鈥� using military intimidation to push the U.S. into a weaker negotiating position. By ramping up tensions around , hopes to coerce Washington into backing off its support for Taipei and, in turn, weakening its global leadership.
But there鈥檚 another more calculated motive: world-leading semiconductor industry. is home to giants like TSMC, which dominates high-end microchip production 鈥� an industry the entire global economy depends on. If seizes control of , it wouldn鈥檛 just be a blow to democracy. It would give a stranglehold over a critical technology sector, accelerating its march toward global dominance.
aggression isn鈥檛 about preserving national unity 鈥� it鈥檚 about stopping an alternative Chinese identity from thriving beyond the CCP鈥檚 control.
is living proof that a Chinese society can be free, prosperous, and democratic without the CCP鈥檚 iron grip. That鈥檚 why matters鈥攏ot just to its own people but to the world.