September 10, United States President Joe Biden had conversation with Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party over the phone. Immediately after the conversation, United States announced that they are \u201cconsidering severely\u201d to change the name \u201cTaipei Economic and Culture Representative Office\u201d (Taiwan\u2019s Diplomatic Establishment in America) to \u201cTaiwan Representative Office\u201d. In July, Taiwan established their Representative Office in Vilnius, the Capital of Republic of Lithuania through their discussions. Taiwan proposed EU (European Union) to change the name \u201cEuropean Economic and Trade Office\u201d to \u201cEuropean Union Office in Taiwan\u201d and the bill passed at EU Committee on Foreign Affaires in September. A series of such movement (changing \u201cofficial name\u201d) is the new wave in Western countries in recent atmosphere that they like to strengthen relations with Taiwan.<\/p>\n
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Since the foundation of socialism in China and depression of the presence of Taiwan in International community and prevention of Taiwan\u2019s improvement in their International position have been Chinese \u2018core\u2019 issue in their diplomatic policy. The People\u2019s Republic of China took place of the Republic of China in the United Nations in 1971. And in 1972, it was a \u2018breakthrough\u2019 for Taiwan that United States and Japan, both have been the most important supporting powers began to promote establishment of relations with Beijing in succession. Due to such sudden change of International situation, position of both sides of Taiwan Strait came to the historical \u2018irrevocable\u2019 conversion. Afterwards Beijing asked the Countries or Governments which have diplomatic relations with China to comply the agreement which those Governments should maintain \u2018informal\u2019 level with Taiwan inevitably. Against the news in Washington mentioned above, Chinese Embassy in United States developed an attitude saying \u201cChina oppose official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan in any style\u201d as before.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLithuania Model\u201d in Western countries:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marking the beginning of 21st century the rise of China became apparent and the position of China in the world kept growing. Beijing aggrandized their International \u201cDiscourse Power<\/em>\u201d (power which makes the other side to accept). At the same time, difference of power at both side of Taiwan Strait increased day by day. A lot of companies in Western countries began to make investments in China and concluded trade relationship. It means Chinese international influence increased. But China could not stop Western and other countries to strengthen their relationship with Taiwan. Recently, we had a series of \u201cchanging name\u201d phenomena in Western countries (including Japan). On New Year\u2019s Day 2017, Japan changed the name \u201cInterchange Association\u201d (Headquarter in Tokyo, Office in Taipei and Kaohsiung) to \u201cJapan-Taiwan Exchange Association\u201d. In May 2017, Taiwan side changed the name \u201cAssociation of East Asia Relations\u201d which handle administration affairs with Japan to \u201cTaiwan-Japan Relations Association\u201d. Taiwan changed the name \u201cCoordination Council for North American Affairs\u201d to \u201cTaiwan Council for North American Affairs\u201d in June 2019. \u201cNetherland Trade and Investment Office\u201d changed its name to \u201cNetherland Office Taipei\u201d in April 2020. And, as the title of this column shows, Lithuania agreed to establish \u201cTaiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania\u201d this year. They have not decided the name of Lithuanian Office in Taiwan yet, but the name would be \u201cLithuanian Representative Office in Taiwan\u201d. EU will also change the name \u201cEuropean Economic and Trade Office\u201d to \u201cEU Representative Office in Taiwan\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Against those phenomena Beijing took actions. Chinese ambassador in Lithuania was called home and Beijing banished Lithuanian ambassador in China who has just arrived at his post. It was a strict and rare measure taken by Beijing to a small country Lithuania which disobeyed. The writer (of this Essay) think that China warned the other Baltic States like Estonia and Latvia not to follow an evil deed as Lithuania and like to avoid the Domino effect in other Middle European countries. However, Beijing has witnessed shocking happenings. EU and America have replaced \u201cTaiwan\u201d as its\u2019 official name. It was clear that Beijing is in a bottleneck that they tried to deter countries which have diplomatic relations from strengthening their relations with Taiwan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLithuanian Model \u2013 Taiwan\u201d Supported by U.S. Congress and Whitehouse \u201cDecision\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n America was not affected by \u201cLithuania Model\u201d. Lithuania and other countries were one step ahead of America. They supported Washington\u2019s official naming \u201cTaiwan\u201d thinking of strengthening relationship with Taiwan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The tendency which American Congress want \u201cTaiwan\u2019s official name\u201d has been nurtured. For example, on December 17, 78 members of the House of Representatives under the Trump Administration made three recommendations about the relations between America and Taiwan by letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In this letter, they recommended to change the name of Taiwanese organization in America to \u201cTaiwanese Representative Office\u201d. In July 2021, United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the bill \u201cEnsuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act\u201d. It was the most noticeable point that they recommended the Government to start discussion about \u201cofficial name\u201d of Taiwanese representative. The reason why Whitehouse could say \u201cwe are considering seriously\u201d is they had support of congress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we think about why they put \u201cTaipei\u201d instead of \u201cTaiwan\u201d to the name of overseas representatives is very rational and complicated. It is a result of their thinking that those countries have considered seriously based on their national profit, not from Beijing \u201cpressure\u201d. Taiwanese themselves, in the era of Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo, sticked to the principle \u201cChinese and its Traitor cannot exist together\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After 1949, especially after 1970s when Taiwan have experienced \u201clabor pains\u201d of \u201cthe wave of break-off of diplomatic relations\u201d, Taiwan has groped for establishment of \u201cnon-diplomatic relations\u201d with the countries which they had diplomatic relations before. When they discussed about establishment of their representative, the choice which \u201cTaiwan\u201d is the name of their representatives was omitted by reason that they did not want the name \u201cRepublic of China\u201d to trivialize to \u201cTaiwan\u201d. And they decided to use \u201cTaipei\u201d because it was very usual to use the name of capital for countries in International diplomatic stages. \u201cWashington\u201d is used for America and \u201cLondon\u201d for United Kingdom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rise of China and higher presence of \u201cTaiwan\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why did Taiwan change their thinking of using \u201cTaipei\u201d for \u201cTaiwan\u201d? There were influences of \u201cstruggle for authority of representation\u201d and a change of their consciousness of \u201cInternational identity\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 1970s Sino-Taiwan relations were reversed in their international position as mentioned above and \u201cthe struggle for authority of representation since 1949\u201d who represent China lawfully had ended. It became difficult for Taiwan, who had professed itself to be \u201cFreedom China\u201d, to call \u201cChina\u201d in International societies. Perception among International societies including America and Japan, which were the most important friendly nations for Taiwan, began to recognize People\u2019s Republic of China as \u201cChina\u201d. In such context of transition of the International situation, people in Taiwan, especially the elite of society, began to establish their position as a separate space from Mainland.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is another reason. In 1990s, Taiwan proceeded to political democratization and developed dynamic image of \u201cMainland\u201d consciousness (Taiwan is Mainland). Structure of national identity changed rapidly. People in Taiwan began to recognize themselves as \u201cTaiwanese\u201d and agreed to recognize \u201cTaiwan\u201d as the place where they belong to. It led to the movement of \u201cofficial name\u201d of overseas representatives. \u201cFormosan Association of Public Affairs (FAPA)\u201d has been making efforts for years to pass \u201cFavorable Bills (for Taiwan)\u201d in United States congress promoted the subject of \u201cofficial name\u201d of Taiwanese overseas representatives. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why do Western countries and Japan support \u201cofficial name\u201d movement of \u201cTaiwan\u201d?<\/p>\n There are three factors.<\/p>\n 1) They thought highly effects of democratization of Taiwan society and can enjoy together universal values in freedom, democracy, and human right.<\/p>\n 2) China expanded \u201cExport of autocratic politics\u201d in Hong Kong. Western countries had a sense of danger against such Chinese intention which might expand to Taiwan.<\/p>\n 3) Counter measures against the COVID-19 in Taiwan was thought to be relatively high among democratic societies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We can say China value an influence of America in their management of international relations in an atmosphere that \u201cNew Cold War\u201d is changing rapidly. Especially after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, China is bothered with America which develop its strategy about China to stay together with democratic countries. I think Beijing will not step into \u201cNew Cold War\u201d with Washington furthermore as you can understand from telephone conversation between Xi Jinping and Biden. If White House would decide \u201cofficial name\u201d of \u201cTaiwan Representative in United States\u201d, it will be difficult for Beijing to take actions like \u201cpunishment\u201d to Lithuania toward America such as recalling Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang in U.S. or rejecting an Inauguration of U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns in China.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n China is rising now. Why cannot China stop such movement \u201cthe wave of official naming\u201d like Taiwan\u2019s being supported by Western countries which have leadership in international society? It will be an important issue for persons in China who are in charge foreign and Taiwan policies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n