Since the 1940s, Taiwan and China’s argument about whether Taiwan can obtain its independence has persisted. With growing tensions between the two countries, China continues to look for an opportunity to take back Taiwan. As Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022 in an attempt to restore the old Union of Soviet Social Republics (USSR), China took this opportunity to begin putting military and political pressure on Taiwan.

“Taiwan has a bit of defense that’s keeping the Chinese from invading. If Taiwan didn’t have the largest electronic chip factory in the world that funds China’s economy, China would have already invaded,” freshman Rachel Lambert said.

By surrounding the island with its ships and launching its fighter jets in no-fly zones and performing naval drills and encircling the island with its navy, China began putting military force on Taiwan. The president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, returned to Taiwan after meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. She voiced her concerns to the United States government about the threat of China by saying Taiwan will absolutely not yield to suppression.

“I see this conflict as a stand-off between democracy and communism. The relationship between the two countries has been sour, and I believe the people of China don’t want to invade but it’s a political and military move by the Chinese Communist Party that rules China,” sophomore Samuel Thompson said.

Taiwan speculates China will declare war in the near future, and might take over Taiwan easily. Though Taiwan declared its independence in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing looks to unify China once again by taking Taiwan. Americans fear that the U.S. will head to war with China over Taiwan, and how that conflict might escalate, especially after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s visit to the island in 2022.

 Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, sparked intense backlash toward Taiwan from the CCP in Beijing. Pelosi acted as a messenger of American diplomacy and accused China of continuing purposeful military drills around and over Taiwan, violating a territorial right.

Taiwan and China’s standstill leaves the rest of the world nervously watching to see if China will strike or remain peaceful. Taiwan continues to strengthen its defenses in case of attack as China continues to encompass the island with navy ships and fighter jets.