Nikki Haley Urges UN to Recognize Taiwan and Push Back Against China
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, spoke in Taipei on Wednesday, urging the UN to fully recognize Taiwan and advocating for a coordinated pushback against China’s claims over the island. She made these remarks at the Ketagalan Forum, an annual seminar on Indo-Pacific security issues sponsored by the Taiwanese government.
Military and Economic Strategies
Haley cautioned that Beijing might resort to military threats if the US and other countries support Taiwan. She argued that this potential threat underscores the urgent need for democracies to act decisively. Haley called for the US and its allies in Europe and Asia to quickly bolster their military capabilities to serve as a stronger deterrent. She stated, “We should support Taiwan now, rather than waiting for a potential Chinese invasion. By taking proactive steps, we can discourage China from initiating conflict.”
In addition, Haley supported an economic strategy that included establishing a US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement to benefit both nations and lessen China’s economic leverage. She emphasized that strengthening economic ties and shifting trade routes will take time, so initiating these efforts as soon as possible is essential.
China’s Reaction
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to bring it under its control, if necessary, by force. Beijing also pressures countries to sever formal ties with Taipei, further isolating Taiwan from the global community. Haley’s advocacy for Taiwan’s full UN membership undermines China’s longstanding position that Taiwan is a part of its territory and should not be internationally recognized as a separate entity. Her call for increased military support from the US and its allies could be perceived as a move to destabilize the region and bolster Taiwan against Chinese pressure, potentially making any military aggression more complex and risky for Beijing.
Additionally, her support for a US-Taiwan free trade agreement aims to reduce China’s economic influence over Taiwan, which could undermine China’s leverage and economic strategy. Overall, these actions may be seen by China as efforts to isolate it diplomatically, challenge its regional dominance, and create a more favorable environment for Taiwan, heightening tensions between the two sides.
Haley’s Support for Taiwan
In her first visit to Taiwan, Haley, who served as the UN envoy from 2017 to 2018, expressed her long-standing support for the country. She commended Taiwan for its determination and called on democratic nations to support Taiwan more robustly.
Doubts Revealed
Nikki Haley -: Nikki Haley is a politician from the United States who used to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations. She speaks about important global issues.
UN -: UN stands for the United Nations, an organization where countries come together to discuss and solve world problems like peace and security.
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government, but China claims it as part of its territory.
China -: China is a large country in Asia. It has a lot of influence and power in the world.
Ketagalan Forum -: The Ketagalan Forum is a place in Taipei, Taiwan, where people discuss important political and economic issues.
Taipei -: Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan.
democracies -: Democracies are countries where people vote to choose their leaders and have freedoms like speech and assembly.
military capabilities -: Military capabilities refer to the strength and equipment of a country’s armed forces, like soldiers, tanks, and planes.
US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement -: A US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement would be a deal between the United States and Taiwan to trade goods and services without many taxes or restrictions.
economic leverage -: Economic leverage means using economic power to influence or control another country or situation.
