Taiwan, Israel deepen friendship, expand exchanges

2021/08/09

Democratic Taiwan and its people are a growing source of interest for many in Israel attracted by the country’s efforts to grow its international footprint despite pressures stemming from authoritarian China’s ongoing campaign of coercion.
 
Taiwan and Israel are natural partners based on a number of commonalities. First is size and population: Taiwan is 36,000 square kilometers with 23.5 million people, Israel 28,000 square km with nearly 10 million. Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945), while the Jewish community of Palestine existed under a British mandate from 1920 to 1948 granted by U.N. predecessor the League of Nations. Both found themselves free of colonial rule following World War II.
 
Although the countries are free, separate political entities, this fact is challenged by their neighbors. China consistently claims sovereignty over Taiwan, while a host of Arab states refuse to accept the existence of Israel in the Middle East.

Lacking natural resources, Taiwan and Israel built up their human capital through education, with a particular focus on science and technology. The countries initially developed highly centralized, state-led economies later abandoned for free-market principles backed by government provision of key services such as education, health and welfare.
 
Taiwan and Israel opted to adhere to democratic systems of government. After years of martial law, the former embarked in the late 1980s on the path to a multiparty system making the country a beacon of freedom, democracy and human rights. This progress is underscored by globally appreciated gestures such as the museum in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City dedicated to raising public awareness of the Holocaust.

In addition, Taiwan has always accepted Israel’s position on national sovereignty and understands the geopolitical reasons behind its relations with China. This mutual respect helps the like-minded partners fight international isolation. Both have special bonds with the U.S. based on historical friendship and shared values. These deep bonds have lasted through decades of Democrat and Republican administrations, and are sure to continue for the foreseeable future.
 
Many in Taiwan see modern Israel as proof that small nations can survive by developing their agriculture, culture, economy, industry, institutions, science and technology. Both countries have registered notable achievements ranging over many of the areas.

Since the opening of representative offices in Taipei City and Tel Aviv in 1993, more than 20 bilateral agreements have been signed. These pertain to fields such as academic cooperation, civil aviation, economic exchanges and parent rights protection. Israel also supports Taiwan’s international participation, while an Israel-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association has led to frequent two-way exchanges.
 
In recent years, local universities have started carrying out extensive research on Israel, Jewish history and civilization, with several Israeli tertiary institutions launching undergraduate study courses on Taiwan. These are complemented by such undertakings as “Taiwan—History, Society and Politics,” the first book about Taiwan in the Hebrew language published in November 2020. This headway bodes well for the continued flourishing of ties between the democracies.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)