In a local TV interview, Taiwan President Lai Chingte said if China's claims on Taiwan are about territorial integrity, then it should also take back land that Russia seized through treaties in the 19th century. “China's intention to annex Taiwan is not because of what anyone or any political party in Taiwan says or does. It’s [also] not for the sake of territorial integrity.” He also says the real reason China wants to take Taiwan is to achieve hegemony in the international area, in the Western Pacific. Under the 1858 Treaty of Aigun and 1860 Treaty of Beijing, China’s Qing Empire signed over to the Russian Empire land the size of modern Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania put together.

Our guests:

Titus Chen
National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations Researcher

Chris Horton
TaiwanBased Journalist