Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has suggested that if China’s claim on Taiwan is rooted in the principle of territorial integrity, then it should also consider reclaiming territories ceded to Russia in the 19th century.
Historically, China lost significant territories to Russia through treaties in 1858 and 1860, known as the Treaty of Aigun and the Convention of Peking. These treaties saw China cede vast areas of what is now Russia’s Far East, including the Amur River region and the area around Vladivostok.
The Taiwanese leader’s challenge indirectly questioned China’s selective application of its “One China” policy, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China and must eventually be reunified by force if necessary.
By drawing attention to China’s past territorial losses to Russia, President Lai has subtly critiqued China’s foreign policy and its historical grievances, which often focuses on territories like Taiwan and the South China Sea while ignoring other historical claims.
Analysts suggest that by bringing up historical grievances with Russia, President Lai might be attempting to shift some of China’s aggressive focus away from Taiwan, suggesting that if territorial integrity is the issue, there are other, perhaps less contentious lands to reclaim.
The reaction from China has been swift but measured. Chinese state media has dismissed the comments as an attempt to distract from what they see as the core issue of Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland.
