The UK Parliament referred to Taiwan as an “independent country” in a report, despite not officially recognizing it as a country. The criteria for what defines a country is complex, and Taiwan’s status as a country is still disputed internationally.
Title: The UK’s Complex Relationship with Taiwan
Paragraph 1: The UK’s Recognition of Taiwan
In a recent report, the UK Parliament’s committee referred to Taiwan as an “independent country,” marking the first time a British political body has used such terminology. However, the UK officially does not recognize Taiwan as a country nor maintain formal diplomatic relations with it. This discrepancy highlights the complexities of defining what constitutes a country.
Paragraph 2: The Declarative Theory of Statehood
According to the declarative theory of statehood, a country must possess a permanent population, defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. These criteria were established in the 1933 Montevideo Convention and do not depend on recognition by other states. This framework allows for unconventional cases like Rose Island, a man-made platform off the coast of Italy that declared independence as a country. Though it met the criteria, it was ultimately destroyed by the Italian military.
Paragraph 3: The Constitutive Theory of Statehood and Taiwan’s Status
The constitutive theory of statehood requires recognition by already recognized countries for a state to be considered a country. Taiwan faces challenges in achieving recognition due to the One China policy, which most countries adhere to. The People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while the Republic of China on Taiwan sees itself as independent. Currently, only a few countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and until it gains widespread recognition, its status as a country will continue to be debated.
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Source : Is Taiwan a country or not? – Thailand China Business News