The Chinese Civil War And Global Warming

When the Chinese civil war ended after World War II, the Communists set up the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland and the Nationalists fled to Taiwan and re-established the Republic of China (ROC) there. For much of the Cold War, the world recognized the government in Taiwan as the "true" China. But after Nixon's visit to China, the pendulum swung the other way and most of the world abandoned Taiwan.

Now, just 23 countries recognize Taiwan. They are mostly small, poor nations in Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan and China fight for these countries' recognition with generous foreign aid.

A new issue has come up for the small Pacific nations-- global warming. Most of their landmass is little more than a few feet above sea level. With rising sea levels, they are losing land, potable water, and arable soil.

Now, these Pacific island nations have formed AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States). Their principal aim is to get the developed world, plus China and India, to curb greenhouse emissions so that their homes do not get obliterated by the sea. Coincidentally, 12* of the 23 countries which recognize Taiwan are also AOSIS members.

If China wants to gain some major brownie points with these 12 countries, it should vow to do more to cut greenhouse gases. Winning over these countries is probably low on China's geopolitical and geo-economic priorities, but it is a nice little side effect of leading the world in curbing carbon emissions.

*The 12 AOSIS members which recognize Taiwan are Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu.