Disagreeing where we must

Australia and China are looking to improve their diplomatic and economic relations after China’s failed attempts to bully Australia into submission, but this shouldn’t stop Australia emphasising its support for Taiwan.

Disinformation and democratic resilience in Taiwan

Taiwan’s robust democracy is underpinned by freedom of speech, press and association – liberties that China exploits to spread disinformation and try to convince Taiwanese citizens that the only way to avoid war is to support its plans to ‘peacefully’ unify Taiwan with mainland China.

Taiwan’s quest for legitimacy

Despite Communist China’s relentless economic, diplomatic and military battering, democratic Taiwan continues to win friends and protect its position through intelligent application of its soft power resources.

The power that Beijing can’t match

Taiwan is smaller and has less access to normal diplomatic avenues but does have one advantage over mainland China – its vibrant free society.

Taiwan’s reinvention of diplomacy

The lack of official diplomatic allies isn’t stopping Taiwan from finding ways of winning friends and influencing people.

China aims to crush Taiwan under the ‘wheels of history’

From Adolf Hitler to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, aggressive tyrants often set out exactly what they plan to do then take commentators and democratic leaders by surprise when they do them. Xi Jinping’s plans to invade and assimilate Taiwan are no exception.

Facing facts over China

Australians have as much reason to be wary of China’s communist government as people in Taiwan, because China’s communists have shown they don’t care about people anywhere – not in China, not in Taiwan and not in Australia.

The travails of Taiwan

As with Vladimir Putin’s horrific invasion of Ukraine, Xi Jinping’s violently aggressive actions in the past few days against Taiwan – and Japan – clearly reveal China’s true nature and intentions.

Can Taipei escape the claws of Beijing?

China’s rhetoric and military build up make clear its designs on invading Taiwan, but the support of the West could still avert disaster.

Ukraine’s heroism may help save Taiwan

Ukraine is not the only peaceful, democratic country menaced by a much larger, authoritarian aggressor. If Russia had strolled to an easy victory in Ukraine, China would surely have been emboldened to attack Taiwan, but the combination of fierce resistance and international support may make even President Xi think twice.

The defence of Australia begins in Taiwan

China is building up its military at breakneck speed and preparing to strike at Taiwan. While its apologists will frame the invasion as inevitable, and in internal affair, Australia and the world’s democracies cannot stand helplessly aside.

Stuck in the past of the future

Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating is willing to sell Taiwan down the river to maintain good relations with Communist China, but his appeasement does him, and his country, no credit.