China Cashes In On Taiwan's Mideast Evacuation Fumble

However, Taipei's poor handling of the evacuation issue significantly diminished the impact of Cho's visit. His leisure trip stood in sharp contrast to the experiences of travelers unable to return to Taiwan. Some asked why an official could charter a plane to watch a game, yet the government was unwilling to do the same to bring citizens home.

Although Taipei has denied any“inaction”, the negative impact is undeniable. Taipei should recognize that such missteps risk undermining its long-standing diplomatic efforts – efforts crucial to reinforcing and maintaining Taiwanese people's sense of self-identity.

Lacking broad international recognition, Taiwan's formal diplomacy has long faced significant obstacles, pushing it toward informal and values-based diplomacy instead. This strategy has allowed Taiwan to maintain substantive relations with most countries alongside those countries' ties with mainland China.

For Taiwanese, one of the most tangible benefits is the ability to travel to most countries on a Taiwan-issued passport and seek assistance from local Taipei Representative Offices – Taiwan's de facto diplomatic missions abroad. This reinforces their self-identity as citizens of an independent nation.

Yet the perceived“inaction” in the face of this crisis appears to confirm Beijing's long-held narrative: the Democratic Progressive Party-led government is unable to protect Taiwanese people, while the Chinese government stands as a strong guarantor for Taiwanese compatriots. This threatens to undermine the consolidation of Taiwanese identity that the DPP aims to achieve.

Indeed, shortly after strikes against Iran began, Taiwanese officials warned Taiwanese citizens against using their Mainland Travel Permits (identity cards issued to Taiwanese citizens by the Chinese government) to register for evacuation as Chinese nationals, saying doing so could“label them as having close ties with Iran” and jeopardize their safety.

This response clearly reflects a defensiveness toward mainland China that shapes Taipei's approach to self-identity – one that stands in contrast to its reaction when Japan evacuated two Taiwanese citizens from Saudi Arabia on a chartered flight arranged by the Japanese government on March 14. Taiwan's MOFA expressed its gratitude to Japan, claiming it reflected“a sincere friendship of mutual support in times of emergency.”

While most Taiwanese are unlikely to embrace Beijing's political propaganda outright, such episodes can fuel anxiety about their self-identity – particularly if citizens feel they may one day have to seek help abroad as Chinese nationals.

A parallel case is the 2018 Typhoon Jebi disaster in Japan, when some Taiwanese travelers criticized the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Osaka for its“poor attitude” and perceived“inaction” when they sought its assistance.