Taiwan votes and Switzerland ‘cuddles’ with China Gerhard Andrey is not running for president of the Greens

Two elections, two different reactions from Switzerland: in Bangladesh, the autocratic head of government Sheikh Hasina was confirmed last week. The US and other Western countries said the elections were “neither free nor fair”. The Swiss ambassador took part in her swearing-in and congratulated her on Facebook.

Also last week, Taiwan elected a new president, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai. Observers called the elections exemplary; the losing candidates acknowledged their defeat without reservation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart David Cameron congratulated via X.

And Switzerland? Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis did not say a word about the elections in Taiwan. The Swiss Industry Trade Office, as the official representation in the capital Taipei is called, remained silent on Facebook about the democratic vote of the 24 million Taiwanese, because Switzerland does not recognize the island republic as an independent state.

The Federal Council and the One China Policy

That puts her in good company. Almost all countries accept the one-China policy dictated by Beijing. But the responses from the US, Britain and other countries show that nuances are possible. Even the German government praised the “free and peaceful elections in Taiwan.” A more than clear contrast with Bangladesh.

In such cases, Switzerland likes to invoke its neutrality. For Simona Grano, private lecturer and director of the Taiwan Studies Project at the University of Zurich, this is not an argument: “The Federal Council is hiding behind the one-China policy,” the researcher said at an event at the Taiwanese university on Friday. elections in Bern.

China is holding back

It was organized by the Délégation culturelle et économique de Taipei, the name of the ‘non-embassy’ in Bern, and the Swiss Democracy Foundation. People were particularly enthusiastic about the PRC’s response. In recent years, the country has repeatedly provoked the island militarily and threatened violent “reunification.”

Now the Chinese People’s Democratic Party (DPP), which is separatist from a Chinese perspective, has won the presidential election for the third time in a row. But there was no strong response from Beijing. Vice Minister Liang Weng-chieh, responsible for relations with the mainland and connected from Taipei, sees several Greens in favor of this.

Ukraine as a warning to Beijing

“The Communist Party was not surprised by the result,” Liang said. Election winner Lai Ching-te has committed to the status quo. The People’s Republic also faces major economic challenges. That’s why she wants “stable relations with the US,” as evidenced by the meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in November.

The Americans are Taipei’s main supporter. Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine has also influenced Beijing’s stance on invading Taiwan, Liang Weng-chieh said: “Taiwan is an island and an attack is much more difficult.” The State Secretary currently considers it unlikely that China will take action against Taiwan.

Hong Kong as a warning for Taipei

Escalation cannot be ruled out. The Economist has described Taiwan as the “most dangerous place in the world”. The Taiwanese have no illusions. The fate of Hong Kong, whose vibrant democratic culture has been “erased,” is a warning, said David Huang, Taiwan’s representative to Switzerland, in an interview with Watson.

An attack would be a dilemma for Switzerland. Although the country maintains active economic relations with Taiwan (the Republic of China, as it is officially known, is the fifth largest trading partner in Asia), it distances itself politically, and not just in elections. In the Chinese strategy presented in 2021, the country defended itself against the threat of bloc formation.

“More pro-Chinese than other countries”

The relationship with the economic superpower China is too important. “Swiss politics is more conservative and pro-Chinese than those of other countries,” said Simona Grano. That also became apparent this week. While the Federal Council ignored Taiwan’s democratic elections, it courted Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

A detailed communiqué was published for Monday’s meeting with Federal President Viola Amherd and Economy Minister Guy Parmelin. Both sides signed a statement reaffirming their willingness to expand the 2013 free trade agreement and “initiate possible negotiations.”

Parmelin travels to China

Parmelin therefore wants to travel to China in the summer, Nicolas Walder, co-chairman of the Switzerland-Taiwan friendship group, said in an interview with Watson. Foreign Minister Cassis is also expected in Beijing soon. It is about China’s possible participation in the peace summit initiated by Ukraine.

It’s a difficult mission. The People’s Republic is officially neutral in this war. In fact, however, it supports Russia, for example in circumventing Western sanctions. The Swiss intervention on behalf of Ukraine could put new strain on relations that have recently been strained due to Swiss criticism of human rights violations.

An impending referendum

A comprehensive free trade deal would also be subject to an optional referendum, unlike the one in 2013. A fierce voting battle could anger Beijing. But Nicolas Walder believes China would still be interested in a new deal with Switzerland, also because of emerging competitors such as India.

But the relationship with Taiwan remains delicate. Last October, the National Council relatively narrowly adopted a motion by Fabian Molina (SP) calling for deepening relations with the Taiwanese parliament. Not to the great delight of the Federal Council. The 2021 China strategy does not address the relationship with the democratic island.

Expert Simona Grano is curious whether this will change in the new edition. It will be drawn up this year, as Alexandre Fasel, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed in December. He suggested it might be “more realistic.” Grano remains sceptical: “The Federal Council is not naive, but focuses strongly on the economy.”