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By Wesley Mashambanhaka
On August 2, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, disregarding the strong warnings of China, and even some cautious dissuasion from within the US, including by President Joe Biden in the run-up to the controversial visit.
The visit was in breach of the “One-China Principle”, recognized by almost all countries including the US in the world that states that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory. China does not recognise Taiwan as independent and has rejected efforts for the island to break away. Any visit by another country is a breach of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.
Consequently, the One China Policy and the sovereignty of Beijing over the region has become a global geopolitical question on which countries of the world have been called on to take a stance – and the majority of the world stands in support of China and its One China Policy.
At the United Nations, Taiwan is not recognised. Only a dozen countries in the world recognise Taiwan as an independent country.
In Africa, the only one country Swaziland recognises and have diplomatic relations with Taiwan; the other 53 countries, as well as the African Union Commission, do not.
Zimbabwe maintains a firm stance in recognition of the One China Policy and Beijing’s sovereignty.
Recently, when top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi visited Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, among other commitments and affirmations, said the country would firmly adhere to the One China policy.
Pelosi provocation
The visit by Pelosi was a well-choreographed provocation against China – which has a just historical cause to claim Taipei and rightly issued a number of warnings prior to the visit.
China now stands sufficiently and justifiably angry at the disregard and disrespect shown by the US in allowing its first top-ranked official to visit Taiwan in three decades.
It is a moment of sheer brinkmanship; and Pelosi – a long-time critic of China – certainly knows what she was doing; that is to foment a standoff between the US and China which could as well lead to a military conflagration.
A CNN report noted that the visit risked “more likely than any other to spark a future US-China war…(and) almost certain to create greater instability in the relationship that would make future conflict more likely”.
Pelosi is described as having moulded “a political career partly defined by standing up to China”.
Reuters news agency said: “Taiwan visit caps Nancy Pelosi’s long history of confronting Beijing”.
The justification by Pelosi and her congressional delegation for the stop-over in Taiwan was that it was “in support of democracy”. However, it has nothing to do with “democracy” at all. Taiwan is only the tool of the US to provoke and curb China. It takes little effort to uncover the mischief and deception in pitting China and the US as being engaged in a mortal fight over governance systems.
Why Africa must stand with China
In principle, the vast majority of African countries should stand with China in light of the provocation. Africa has resolutely observed the Once China Policy and supported Beijing on that key international affairs question since 1971, when the United Nations placed Taiwan under China.
What should follow Pelosi’s provocation is Africa speaking with one voice in condemnation of the US manoeuvres which are clearly dangerous and puts world peace at stake.
It is clear that the US, which thrives on wars and survives on human blood like a vampire, wants to fight China by proxy.
A proxy war is an indirect war.
There is a high likelihood that China will take – as it promised – strong countermeasures against Pelosi’s provocation and protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Under this scenario, China will rightly assert its military presence on the territory, leading to confrontation with separatist forces who will receive support from the US.
This is what America has been spoiling for over the years, and by recently raising the stakes.
If the proxy war in Taiwan breaks out, it means that the world will be engulfed with war involving the US, Nato, Russia and China – and that is not good for humanity.
Objectively speaking, this is an inopportune moment because of the sheer senselessness of it all: the conflict in Ukraine has led to global catastrophe economically as well as death and destruction in Ukraine.
At the centre is human suffering and the death toll.
Africa does not stand for this. Not least, it will also suffer the ramifications of war.
It is a dangerous moment in history.
African countries and other regions of the world must strongly object to the recklessness and vicious offence of Western countries that appear ready to wage wars whose cynical cause is to profit from conflict. Unfortunately, not all people actually benefit; only the elites within the military-industrial complex.
It is not lost to keen observers that the failing US, wrecked by economic decline and general rot, has been seeking to divert attention from its domestic problems and likely wants to ensnare China in a war so as to derail the progress of China and its march towards being the world’s largest economy, bettering none other than America itself.
It’s also a sad day when the world is pushed onto the precipice just because one old American woman wants to stroke her ego by single-handedly provoking a war between the two great powers so as to fulfil a dubious personal political career goal.
African countries should reject the planned Armageddon, because the destruction of the world will ultimately affect everyone, including future generations.
It is an opportune time for Africa to show support for China and its rightful position on Taiwan, and send the message around the globe that Africa will not abandon its ally and partner.
Not in a moment like this.