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Sledgehammer diplomacy and China’s soft touch
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Sledgehammer diplomacy and China’s soft touch

From Premium Times · (9m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Taiwan, despite its economic and military strengths and claims of sovereignty, is not recognized as an independent country by most of the world, including China.
  • The reality of Taiwan's international standing was highlighted when three African nations denied its president permission to fly over their territory en route to Eswatini, allegedly due to Chinese pressure.
  • The article argues that Taiwan's purported sovereignty is a "fake product" and that its international invisibility is a result of China's skillful diplomacy, with even its main backers like the US using it as a pawn without establishing formal diplomatic ties.

The article, 'Sledgehammer diplomacy and China’s soft touch,' published in Nigeria's Premium Times, offers a critical perspective on Taiwan's international status and China's diplomatic maneuvers. The author, Owei Lakemfa, posits that Taiwan, despite its economic prowess and military capabilities, fundamentally lacks the recognition of a sovereign state. This is illustrated by the recent incident where Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te was denied overflight permission by three African nations, an event the author attributes to China's "sledgehammer diplomacy" and "soft touch."

Taiwan has the mentality of the butterfly which because it has wings and can fly, assumes it is a bird. But in reality, a person is who he is, not what he claims to be.

— Owei LakemfaIllustrating Taiwan's perceived overestimation of its international standing.

Lakemfa argues that Taiwan's claims to sovereignty are akin to a butterfly assuming it is a bird simply because it has wings. He draws a parallel to historical perceptions of Taiwanese goods being of inferior quality, suggesting that its claim to statehood is similarly a "fake product." The piece emphasizes that even powerful allies like the United States, while engaging in informal relations, are unwilling to establish formal diplomatic ties, using Taiwan as a strategic pawn in its geopolitical games with China.

This may well be true, but the fact is that Taiwan is not recognised as an independent country and its aircraft cannot be granted permission to overfly these countries.

— Owei LakemfaCommenting on Taiwan's reaction to being denied overflight permission and the underlying reality of its international recognition.

From a Nigerian perspective, the article underscores the complexities of international relations and the significant influence of major powers like China in shaping global recognition. It highlights how economic and political leverage can be used to isolate nations, a dynamic that resonates in a continent often navigating the influence of global superpowers. The author's framing suggests that Taiwan's situation is a stark reminder that in international affairs, perceived strength does not always equate to recognized sovereignty, and that China's diplomatic strategy has been remarkably effective in diminishing Taiwan's global visibility.

The issue I am raising here is not the politics, but the deft diplomatic moves of China that has almost rendered Taiwan invisible in the world.

— Owei LakemfaHighlighting China's successful diplomatic strategy in isolating Taiwan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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