Unspeakable Fraud: China's Fake Claim To Taiwan

In short, Chiang's specific fraud was this: He began to represent Taiwan as sovereign Chinese territory, which it was not. This was a flat misrepresentation. Chiang had made a completely false claim. He misled the world and opened the door for China's fake claim to Taiwan, the unspeakable fraud.

Some observers point out that his deception was even in violation of the Hague Convention: A military occupier is a temporary administrator, not an owner.

What's more, neither the military occupation nor Chiang's annexation changed the sovereignty status of Taiwan. It was still Japanese, pending a yet-to-be-produced peace treaty. Such a treaty would be the competent authority to deal with issues of sovereignty.

Today there is great irony in Chiang's fraud.

It is that the People's Republic of China, Chiang's nemesis, now uses Chiang's claimed annexation as a basis for the PRC's claim to Taiwan. The PRC recognizes Chiang's fraudulent annexation as if it were a legitimate act. Accordingly when the PRC defeated the ROC in 1949, it considered Taiwan to be a legitimate acquisition of the revolution.

As you can imagine, this creates quite a dilemma. And it's a dangerous one.

As a result the island of Taiwan presently faces serious threats. There is now a situation wherein Taiwanese people must live under a threat of invasion from the PRC, and of being the possible venue for a battle of surrogacy between the PRC and the United States.

That's nothing new. Past world headlines have framed the story and America's reaction this way:

"Biden Says US Would Defend Taiwan if China Invaded." --Voice of America, May 23, 2022

"China says it reserves right to use force over Taiwan." --Aljazeera, October 15, 2022

"China speeding up plans to seize Taiwan, Blinken says." --Washington Post, October 18, 2022

As recently as late December 2025, President Xi Jinping has been conducting notable military maneuvers around Taiwan. They're said to be a prelude to an inevitable takeover of the island -- a "reunification", as Xi calls it.

The present Trump administration seems largely to be ducking the issue with relatively noncommittal statements.

Meanwhile, however, according to NPR on December 18, 2025, there is this: "U.S. announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion."

NPR goes on: "Taiwan's Defense Ministry in a statement Thursday expressed gratitude to the U.S. over the arms sale, which it said would help Taiwan maintain 'sufficient self-defense capabilities.'"

Given China's already menacing military maneuvers around Taiwan, Trump's military reaction can be viewed as an escalation. A less-risky approach might be better for all concerned.

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