How similar are Israel and Taiwan? Let’s count the ways. Since its independence in 1948, the Jewish state has faced constant threats from powerful neighbors who refused to accept its existence. Since Chiang Kai-shek arrived on the island of Taiwan a year later, Communist China has threatened to invade and destroy every sign of nationhood. Only twelve countries officially recognize Taiwan. Only a handful of Muslim countries recognize Israel.
After Beijing inherited Taipei’s seat at the United Nations in 1971, the communist camarilla systematically maneuvered to expel the island nation from all international organizations. Even as tourists, Taiwanese citizens are not allowed to enter the UN headquarters in New York. In some ways, however, Taiwan is luckier than UN member Israel. The Israel-obsessed world body attacks the Jewish state more often and more brutally than all the world’s countries combined.
Taiwan shed its authoritarian roots, and Israel threw off its socialist shackles. Despite the constant threat of sanctions, embargo and isolation – or because of them – Israel and Taiwan have become giants of innovation. Taipei is a leading source of personal computers. It produces 90 percent of the world’s advanced semiconductors. The hardware and software developments in Israel are legendary. Despite their small size, the startups of the world are the envy.
“Taiwan and Israel share the values of freedom and democracy, and will continue to pragmatically promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation” in areas such as trade, technology and culture, and welcome more “mutually beneficial forms of cooperation,” the Foreign Ministry in Taipei told Reuters. However, the ministry declined to comment on Mr Wu’s visit to Israel. In Jerusalem, the Israeli Foreign Ministry is completely silent.
One unmentioned but probably most important driver for the unpublicized tightening of relations is that Israel is a war-tested country and that Taiwan fears a military invasion by communist China. Israel’s missile defense systems have successfully defended the country against short-range missiles from Gaza and long-range ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen. Taiwan would like to use that experience to improve its version of the Iron Dome, the T-dome.
After October 7, 2023, Taipei consistently sided with Israel, while several of its Asian neighbors hedged. Communist China has championed Palestinian Arabs in international forums and often leads the charge against Israel at the UN. At the same time, Chinese companies are deepening their investments in Israeli infrastructure, despite some recent opposition. Due to diplomatic attacks, Jeruesalm cannot afford to antagonize Beijing.
All this explains the sensitivities surrounding events such as Mr Wu’s recent visit and the care with which the two countries express their mutual admiration. As Beijing continually threatens to “unite” the two Chinas by invading Taiwan, the free island has developed a defense doctrine known as the “porcupine strategy,” designed to complicate the invader’s calculus. And they conduct their direct diplomacy just like the porcupines – very carefully.
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