The land question in many nations across the world that went through a period of colonisation and dispossession by Western powers at the turn of the 19th century remains a burning issue in both domestic and international affairs.
The divide-and-conquer method of subjugation during these periods, which gave little thought to historical and ancestral ties to land, has resulted in many conflicts throughout the last 200 years of world history.
From an African perspective, incidents such as the Berlin Conference between 1884 and 1885, which resulted in the carving up of Africa, was the perfect breeding ground for dispossession, separatism, and colonial borders. This resulted in various conflicts around the continent, such as the Rwanda Genocide, the Mau Mau Uprisings, the Liberian Civil Wars under Samuel Doe, and then Charles Taylor, Nigerian Civil War, Angolan Civil War, the Lord’s Resistance Army Insurgency, establishment of the RUF in Sierra Leone and the brutal wars in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan; which have all resulted in widespread famine and the killing of women and children by the millions.
There were many other conflicts on the continent at the turn of the 19th century, but when one shifts focus and looks toward the Far East, the situation and historical events between mainland China and present-day Taiwan are not that different when one makes a comparative analysis between the two phenomena.
The island of Taiwan has been part of and an extension of mainland China since 1683 after it was annexed by the Qing dynasty of China. Then, after a series of invasions by foreign-backed elements within the Far East, the island was eventually seceded to the Japanese in 1895 after the First Sino-Japanese War.
However, it is widely accepted that China’s civilisation and historical records go back hundreds of years, as far back as AD239, which saw the first settlers from mainland China occupy the territory. Fast-forward to 2024, the People’s Republic of China finds itself in a position where it has to protect the historical integrity of its territories in a hostile environment.
China has a right to foster peaceful relations and sovereignty among its territories, and this was stressed in a message conveyed by the nation’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who says the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and Taiwan’s independence separatist activities are the most destructive elements to the peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was speaking to China FM when he denounced the actions of individuals like Lai Ching-te as disgraceful betrayals of the nation and the ancestors.
“No matter what tricks they play, they cannot prevent China from ultimately achieving complete reunification, as Taiwan is bound to return to the embrace of the motherland. All Taiwan independence separatists are set to be nailed to the pillar of shame in history,” Wang said.
Furthermore, China FM reports that he “expressed appreciation for the SCO member states for firmly adhering to the one-China principle based on the basic norms of international relations on defending each country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“The world will continue to support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing Taiwan independence separatist activities and striving for national reunification,” he said.
Further illustrating the importance of reunification territorial integrity, the China Daily reported that the Chinese government is ready to take strong action against diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists.
The global superpower recently revealed a new weapon to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard Taiwan independence separatists for conducting or inciting secession were jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice and took effect upon release,” read the report.
According to the report, this move came against a backdrop of escalating tensions across the Strait triggered by repeated separatist attempts made by those advocating Taiwan independence.
“It allows Chinese courts to bring diehard Taiwan independence separatists to trials in absentia. In the most severe cases, a convict may receive a death sentence. It also acts as a warning and deterrent to external forces who would not keep their hands off affairs related to Taiwan. Those who are found to have colluded with any foreign or overseas institution, organisation or individual in conducting or inciting secession, would be given a harsher punishment,” read the China Daily report.
Despite being a stern action against separatists, the document draws a clear line between a few stubborn separatists and the rest of the Taiwan people which emphasises that some in Taiwan may have a misguided understanding of their identities and the nature of cross-Strait relations.
“They are given chances to free themselves from misunderstandings and be aware of the harmfulness and danger of separatist activities. For over 70 years, although the two sides of the Strait have yet to achieve complete reunification, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been divided. The historical facts are that both sides of the Strait belong to one country and people on both sides of the Strait belong to the Chinese nation,” read the report.
While the fate of the world hangs in the balance due to the injustices of the past, the relations and experiences between Africa and the Far East are not mutually exclusive under the iron thumb of colonisation. All developing nations, particularly those aligned with BRICS, have a right to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty by any means necessary.
The God of Western-influenced colonialism, which sat on the pedestal and watched the progressive dehumanisation and dispossession of the developing world, has surely suffered dethronement; and China and its action against the Taiwanese separatists is a case in point.
Ayanda Mdluli is the editor of the Daily News.
Daily News