LOS ANGELES — On the surface of things, it might not seem like such a big deal. Taiwan is to get recognition as an observer at an important world health meeting in Geneva to be held later this month. But in the context of Asian diplomatic history, it is a big deal.
For years Beijing has successfully blocked Taiwan's participation — formal or otherwise — in everything from international organizations to beach volleyball pickup games. Beijing's venom for a Taiwan that at any moment might declare formal independence scared everyone off — including the United States.
Instead of increasing the island's "international space," as diplomats put it, Taiwan's independence ploy only sucked more air out of it. Few nations wanted to be seen standing close to Taiwan with the mainland dragon shooting fierce flames of diplomatic fire at the island — and at anything that got in the way.