Despite being recognized as an independent country by 13 United Nations member states and Vatican City, the global community should be concerned about the state of China–Taiwan relations. Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to increase as China green-lighted a potential death penalty for Taiwanese independence activists. Chinese intimidation tactics have been rising since President Lai Ching-te took office on May 20. He gave an inaugural address in which he urged Beijing to stop its intimidatory political and military actions.

Given this context, the statement Lai gave was startling: “I also want to call on China to face up to the existence of the Republic of China and have exchanges and dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected, legitimate government. If this is not done, relations between Taiwan and China will only become more and more estranged.” This comes as Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said that those trying to separate Taiwan from China would be “crushed and bring about their own downfall,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

​​“I want to stress: Democracy is not a crime. It’s autocracy that is the real evil,” Taiwan’s president said. “China has absolutely no right to sanction Taiwan’s people just because of the positions they hold. What’s more, China has no right to go after Taiwan people’s rights across borders.” According to China, Lai said, anybody who doesn’t support “reunification” backs Taiwan’s independence.

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Lai rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims and said only the Taiwanese people should decide this by referendum. He has repeatedly offered talks with China, but he has been rebuffed. China says any move by Taiwan to declare formal independence would be a justification to attack the island. The government in Taipei said Taiwan is already an independent country, the Republic of China, and that it does not plan to change that. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war against Mao Zedong’s Communists.

China needs to step back and respect the precedent of separation from Taiwan. The United States must do its part in ensuring Taiwan is allowed its independence without provoking China. People may argue that if we recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan, then they should be allowed to operate freely. This, however, is an assumption made in a vacuum without the context of the geopolitical situation. Taiwan cannot afford to actively provoke China. China must also step back from the death penalty call. They cannot regulate the other country. Then the two countries can remain without imminent conflict.