And Taiwan isn't even one of China's top ten trading partners. So who has more power over the other?
The passport thing doesn't mean anything in and of itself. That's not the point.
The passport thing doesn't mean anything in and of itself. That's not the point.
>> The PRC exerts indirect control over Taiwan's economy by pressuring its trading partners, so the distinction is academic.
That's not what happens. What does happen is China pressures international bodies like the UN and the Olympic committee to pretend if they want to talk to Taiwan, they must talk to only China.
But it has mainly cosmetic effect... eg, despite all that effort, Taiwanese passports (not issued by China) are recognized almost everywhere except China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_passport#Limitations_in...
Of course the nuclear-armed mainland is bigger and scarier than a small island of 20-something million with only conventional forces. But China has not been suppressing Taiwan's trade as you wrongly said, it has been encouraging and benefitting from it to the point it's the #1 partner with double the value of the US.
1) letting them open factories and conduct business in China
2) letting them visit and vacation in China
3) trade with China at all
If you want an example of an actual embargo check out Iran, Cuba, for great examples of pointless aggression (from the US).