China and Taiwan: A really simple guide

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island. Taiwan has strong links to China, its biggest trading partner. A richer, more powerful China exerts pressure so more countries do not recognise Taiwan or lend it support. In a military confrontation, China's armed forces would dwarf those of Taiwan. Some Western experts predict that Taiwan could at best aim to slow a Chinese attack, try to prevent a shore landing by amphibious forces, and mount guerrilla strikes while waiting for outside help. Taiwan sits in the so-called "First island chain", which includes a list of US-friendly territories that are crucial to Washington's foreign policy in the region. China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea has also made Taiwan more significant to US calculations.