Power accrues to states through their relationships with others in the form of alliances, associations or treaties. Membership of an alliance offers a form of political power by recognition, provides states with collective security and enables a state to share in the benefits of membership (E.g. UN, UNSC (significantly more diplomatic power), IMF, ICC, ANZUS (defence treaty), APEC, G20)
China uses diplomatic power in the UN to prevent Taiwan from becoming a state and backs it up with economic sanctions. Any state that does, gets dimplotically shamed and negative economic sanctions but China also entices states to not see Taiwan - Vanuatu (got aid)
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