The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, and one of the very few countries with diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Recently, the Vatican has released some information through Italian newspapers, indicating that the relationship between the Vatican and China has reached a critical moment.

The Vatican's message is mainly twofold. First, China strongly demands the Vatican to sever its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in exchange for establishing diplomatic relations with China. In regard to this, the Holy See's response was to set up an embassy in Beijing first and decides on its relationship with Taiwan later. Naturally, China disagrees with it, and the situation is now in a stalemate. Second, Pope Francis has a large number of followers in Taiwan, and he is under great pressure from China on the Taiwan issue. In recent months, the Vatican has been rather concerned about the increase in military conflicts across the Taiwan Strait, and believes that the situation has reached a critical point.

It is quite unusual for the Vatican to release such information. It is worth noting that Corriere della Sera, the leading Italian newspaper, has devoted half of the page to discuss the Taiwan issue. The Vatican is the center of faith for one-sixth of the world's population. In the past, thanks to many efforts of different parties, including ANBOUND, the relationship between the Vatican and China had seen some positive developments, even significant progresses. In 2018, the Vatican and China signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops, which was later renewed. Since the agreement was signed, it has never been announced, and the outside world has no idea about the specific content, only that the two sides may have made some arrangements for the appointment of bishops. The Holy See stated that it mainly wants to solve the schism of the Chinese Catholic Church, because it believes that if China continues to appoint bishops loyal to the Chinese government, the Chinese underground church will fall further apart.

Judging from the characteristics of the Vatican, more often than not it is unwilling to publicly declare its relations with China. Now it is publicly revealing information to the Italian newspapers, and that is something uncommon for the Holy See. This seems to indicate that the Vatican is deliberating its final decision, that either China agrees with its position, or it means that the relevant negotiations will end here.

It is difficult to say whether that the relationship between the Vatican and China has been affected and impacted by the Taiwan factor and global geopolitics. After all, China's current world influence is not sufficiently solid, while Taiwan's diplomatic offensive is dynamic where new progresses are constantly being achieved.