China and Taiwan argue over history and land

China and Taiwan are in a heated dispute about their shared history and who controls the island. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of China and cannot be "invaded" because it already belongs to them. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told European diplomats in Beijing that Taiwan’s ruling party is pushing for independence, which he called risky. China has increased military exercises near Taiwan, raising fears of a possible conflict that could spark a larger regional war.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, in a speech on Tuesday, said Taiwan’s future should be decided by its people through democracy, not by any single leader or party. He argued that "Taiwan independence" means the island is not part of the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan’s government, officially called the Republic of China, moved to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.

Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office responded, saying Lai is twisting history to promote separation. They claim Taiwan has always been part of China, a view Taiwan rejects as false. Tensions have grown over the past five years, with China stepping up pressure through military and political actions. Taiwan’s leaders remain firm, saying their history and democratic system set them apart from China. The ongoing clash over history and sovereignty continues to strain relations between the two sides.