This week in Shanghaiist
Interview: Coco Zhao, from jazz to M. Butterfly
Taiwan has formally recognised Kosovo:
Taiwan said on Wednesday it is recognizing Kosovo, in a move certain to anger diplomatic rival China which has resolutely opposed the Balkan region's independence from Serbia."Kosovo declared independence on February 17 and the Republic of China (Taiwan) has formally recognized Kosovo with immediate effect," Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, using the island's official name.
But the Foreign Ministry stopped short of saying whether it had forged formal diplomatic ties with Kosovo.
And what does China say to that?:
Taiwan has no right and qualification to recognize Kosovo's independence, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijng Monday."It is known to all that Taiwan, as a part of China, has no right and qualification at all to make the so-called recognition," Liu Jianchao said in a press release.
Liu made the remarks in response to the report that Taiwan authorities congratulated on Kosovo's independence and might recognize it.
There is only one China in the world. The commonly accepted consensus is that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, said Liu.
And here are the reasons given by its UN Ambassador:
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya expressed "grave concern" on Monday over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, urging serious discussion on the matter and a responsible response."China opposes unilateral actions and objects imposed solutions by pressure," Wang told an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
"China maintains all along that the best way to resolve the issue of Kosovo status is for the two parties concerned to reach a mutually acceptable solution through negotiations. This should be the common goal of all the parties concerned," he said.
He also said the question of the status of Kosovo is not only an emotional issue for the Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs, but also bears on peace, security and stability of the Balkan region and even Europe at large.
China is not the only country that will oppose Kosovar independence. Spain, Romania, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia are also likely to oppose it for fears that this would fuel independence movements in their own countries.
Photo from openDemocracy.
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Beijing seems to have a point, until you ask yourself if recognition is necessary in order to make a country. And consensus is a lovely thing, until you realise that, on some issues, there can be no consensus.
Unfortunately for Beijing and Russia, there is little they can do. Even if half of the world's countries did not recognise Kosovo, and Kosovo never entered the UN, Kosovo would still be recognised by the other half. Most countries probably don't care enough about the independence (or recognition in the case of Taiwan) movements that the opposants of Kosovar independence fear. This is especially true since 90 per cent of the population of Kosovo is ethnically Albanian, so is more inclined to favor independence.
Albania
Albania
You border on the Adriatic
Your land is mostly mountianous
And your chief export is chrome