A Practical but Difficult Solution How can the Taiwan crisis be resolved without war?

While experts who spoke to Sky News Arabia believe that a military confrontation is the closest thing between China and Taiwan, they also noted that there is a scenario through which the crisis can be resolved peacefully without war.

In recent weeks, the parties to the crisis (China andUnited States) measures that have been characterized as escalatory, including the announcement of Washington New arms deals with Taiwan worth $619 million, mainly boosting its air force, while Beijing increased its military budget by 7.2% for 2023.

She accused Taiwan China said it had raised the budget in preparation for an invasion of the island, while China said Washington was fueling conflict in the region by supplying Taiwan with advanced weapons.

According to the "One China" principle, which Beijing considers a red line that cannot be crossed, Taiwan is part of its territory, although Taipei is self-governing, accusing Washington of encouraging "separatists" on the island to impose influence over it and the surrounding global trade lanes instead of China.

and threatened Beijing The U.S. has repeatedly said it will not rule out using force, invading the island and imposing direct rule if separatists respond to Washington's "incitement."

Peaceful solutions exist

Dr. Jasser Matar, a specialist in international affairs, says: "Of course there is a peaceful solution to the crisis as there was in UkraineBut the question is, are the parties ready to put in place frameworks that can be agreed upon to solve the crisis politically?"

He briefly explained why each side (China and the US) is insisting on their positions at the moment, and the possibility of overcoming it to a peaceful solution that would spare the world from new evils and crises, Matar said:

- China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, and its complete separation from Taiwan would violate its sovereignty and threaten its influence in the South China Sea and the straits through which 60% of global trade passes.

- Washington, which is pushing Taiwan in this crisis, sees China's influence in that region as a threat to its trade, and China's complete takeover of Taiwan would mean consolidating Beijing's influence in the South China Sea; this explains why US leaders have stated their intention to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion.

- The solution is to hold direct negotiations between Washington and Beijing, establishing regulatory frameworks for the movement of trade there, international supervision of the corridors to be neutral, and for China to stop its military maneuvers that disrupt trade, in exchange for the United States' commitment to the "One China" principle, which means that Taiwan belongs to the territory of China while retaining its own authority and autonomy.

- Diplomatic and political norms say that this is the only peaceful solution available, otherwise confrontation will inevitably erupt between the two sides.

Source: Sky News Arabia.