Australian Support for an Independent Taiwan Prior to the Recognition of the People's Republic of China*

Abstract

Australia's efforts between 1950 and 1972 to create an independent Taiwan are an important, largely overlooked element of Australia and Taiwan's international relations. Australia saw de jure independence for Taiwan as a means to support the US while pursuing the interrelated goals of accommodating the People's Republic of China (PRC) and minimising contradictions between US China policy and the policies of the UK and other countries important to it. Initially Australia favoured the establishment of a Taiwanese majority‐controlled state. This preference later gave way to greater support for an independent Republic of China on Taiwan under Chinese Nationalist rule. Australia nevertheless consistently justified its policy via reference to the principle of self‐determination for Taiwan's people — either immediately in the case of a Taiwanese Taiwan, or postponed into the indefinite future in the case of a Chinese Nationalist Taiwan. Championing Taiwan independence lost its utility for Australia when Sino‐ US relations improved in the late‐1960s to early‐1970s, and it became possible for Australia to make the concessions over Taiwan demanded by China without damaging its relationship with the US. This shift preceded the election of a Labor government committed to building a friendly relationship with China. Australia then dropped its policy of advocating Taiwanese independence, and established official relations with China in late 1972.

Development Assistance and Geopolitics in Australia-China-Taiwan Relations

“…This Republic of China (ROC) government on Taiwan continued to compete with the People's Republic of China (PRC) for international recognition as the sole government of China. Although Australia diplomatically recognized the Nationalist government in Taipei, Australia pursued a policy of pressuring each side to accept the indefinite independence of the other, leading to unfriendly relations with both governments (Atkinson 2011).Taipei eventually lost sufficient support for its claim to the China seat in the United Nations (UN) and walked out in 1971. Simultaneously, US-China détente allowed Australia to make concessions to China over Taiwan without damaging its relationship with the US.…”