Taiwan"s leader urges China to reclaim land from Russia

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te recently highlighted the inconsistency in China's territorial claims during an interview. He pointed out that while the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) asserts a claim over Taiwan, it has not made similar efforts to reclaim land lost to Russia during the 'century of humiliation.' Lai referenced the treaty of Aigun, signed in 1858, which resulted in China losing approximately 1 million square kilometers of territory, including what is now Vladivostok. Lai argued that if China's motivations were genuinely about territorial integrity, it would prioritize reclaiming these lands from Russia, especially given Russia's current vulnerabilities. He suggested that the lack of action towards Russia indicates that the CCP's ambitions regarding Taiwan are not purely territorial but rather geopolitical in nature. The president emphasized that control over Taiwan is strategically significant for China, as it would enhance the CCP's influence in the Pacific region and provide greater control over the Taiwan Strait. This perspective aligns with the broader narrative of the CCP, which seeks to reshape the global order to its advantage. Experts, including Wen-ti Sung from the Australian National University, noted that the treaty of Aigun represents one of China's most significant territorial losses, yet the Chinese government rarely discusses reclaiming this territory. This lack of focus on the Aigun lands further supports Lai's assertion that the CCP's intentions towards Taiwan are driven by geopolitical strategy rather than a genuine concern for territorial integrity.