I was arguing with a friend over whether Taiwan is a province of China.
My friend said- and I quote - “Because the PRC control mainland China, they also have Taiwan; and if Taiwan doesn’t like that, they will have to declare war on China to gain their independence.”I think he’s got it backwards, don’t you?
China would like Taiwan to be their province, but at the moment it is not. I don’t see how anyone could argue otherwise.
Nor do I see why it is necessary for a travel flash game to describe Taiwan as a province of China as a sop to the mainland Chinese government:
Disgraceful.
The same friend also believes the 9/11 conspiracy theories.
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September 7, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Jon Newton
Actually Taiwan is a province of China. Until recently, and perhaps still, the govt of Taiwan has claimed to be the true govt of China; a hangover from the Nationalists fleeing there when Mao drove them out of popwer on the mainland. Australia recognized the Nationalist claim until about 1972, when Gough Whitlam changed the policy and recognized the Communist govt.
Some people in Taiwan want to declare independence, but no way China will accept that. So we have a standoff: Taiwan will stay kind of independent because of US protection but can never declare itself a separate country because China would then attack it. It’s a kind of mutual understanding between China and the US. Moreover Taiwanese are now big investors on the mainland so it’s in everyone’s interests to keep playing this game. The Chinese are looking for a Hong Kong type solution eventually.
September 8, 2007 at 6:39 pm
markk
I get what you mean, but it’d be more accurate to say that Taiwan is a Chinese nation and that the PRC is another Chinese nation, which is not exactly the impression one gets from the phrase “Province of China”.
September 8, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Jon Newton
No way you’ll get the Chinese govt to agree with that!
September 9, 2007 at 1:26 am
markk
True enough, unfortunately. I wonder what would happen if America had to withdraw from the area.
September 9, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Jon Newton
Thankfully it’s not now in China’s interests to invade Taiwan because of the deepening economic ties between the two Chinas, but if Taiwan declared independence they would act. The US role is probably to facilitate an eventual reunification that respects Taiwan’s distinctiveness. China is giving mixed signals, however. Look at Hong Kong and Tibet for 2 very different scenarios. If China becomes a democracy, that would make it all easier.
September 12, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Jason
A good article and great discussions. Very insightful!
September 12, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Jason
To answer this question, the historical fact of Taiwan (or Formosa) needs to be taken into account (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Taiwan).
In 1952, Japan formally renounced all territorial rights to Taiwan in the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1953 after was defeated by the US. Notify that “all territorial rights to Taiwan”. Clearly the future of Taiwan belongs to all the people who live on this island. And that is the end of it as simple as that. Hence, a referendum is warranted in order to determine the future of Taiwan. Unfortunately, this matter was complicated by the “political game” mainly played by two rival nations (US and China) as always.
September 12, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Robert Hruzek
When I was working in Taiwan, the locals’ reaction to this issue was mostly non-committal. The deepening investment ties across the straight have made a change in the status quo almost impossible, unless something dramatic were to change it.
I don’t see things changing much anytime soon. Political pussyfooting will continue to dance around the subject as much as possible.
September 13, 2007 at 10:40 pm
markk
I get the impression that the locals there identify as Chinese, but they are no fans of the present regime.
I definitely agree that nothing is likely to change soon, whether by referendum or any other way. Any referendum would be highly charged, what with the PRC having such an interest in the outcome.
September 18, 2007 at 7:29 am
Pete Aldin
Good discussion