I kinda feel the same, like I would of course love to see Taiwan go left, whether as a part of China or otherwise, but as for the whole nationality dispute it's not like it's gonna be resolved soon so I don't pay it much mind honestly.
Taiwan exists primarily because of US interventionism. If during the civil war the confederates retreated to Cuba and took over the island and then a foreign power came in and started sailing warships between Cuba and the US ever since to keep the mainland from attacking it would be weird to just say "ya just let the confederates have Cuba whatever". Taiwan doesnt just want to exist as a little island off the coast of its biggest rival forever, thats not a sustainable thing. Taiwan is also increasingly posturing against China and continually increasing US military presence in the region, its ridiculous to think this situation wont blow over at some point with Taiwan actively conspiring against China like that.
The reasons for unification cant really be dismissed this way. Remember that actual separatism in Taiwan is not a popular position. its a similar predicament as korea, also because of us intervention, and reunification is very popular in korea still
Taiwan of today is basically politically comparable to your average Nordic country
Far more comparable to South Korea or the Philippines, which the US has kept under occupation for decades.
Nobody in their right mind actually thinks Taiwan will ever govern all of China.
No more than anyone seriously thinking Cuba will ever govern the United States.
But Taiwan is also home to a US nuclear arsenal, routinely hosts US warships, and gives the US Navy and Airforce free rein over its sea and air space. It is at least a big of a threat as Soviet weapons systems stationed in Cuba during the 60s. If the US and China ever came into open military conflict, Taiwan would quickly become a major base of operations for American aggression against the Chinese mainland.
I'm pretty firmly pro-China but I feel the same way about all these claims. It obviously operates as an independent state and it's idealistic to declare which states are and are not 'legitimate'. If it functions as a state, it's a state (even if you don't want it to be).
The bigger problem with Taiwan is historical. The purge of communists in Taiwan was about as brutal as anywhere else in the world. And the post-occupation purge was followed by decades of fear-mongering and propaganda. Not unlike what occurred in Hong Kong, culminating in the '19 riots. This has established conditions on the island that compel locals to bend to western policy.
An independent Taiwan is not a problem, on its face. But Taiwan as a floating base for American military - including a fully-functional nuclear arsenal that posses more of a treat to China than the USSR's weapons stationed on Cuba during the 60s - is a huge problem. A Taiwanese population that becomes a breeding ground for anti-CCP agitation, spying, terrorism, and torture is a huge problem. A major population center that is under foreign military occupation - not unlike South Vietnam or South Korea suffered for decades - is a huge problem.
Taiwan isn't an independent province. It is an American colony, on par with The Philippines, Haiti, Grenada, and Guam. Even before you start sounding like a Rhodesian, talking about the rights of a bunch of settler-colonialists to self-determination - you need to come to terms with the literal material conditions of the island. People in Taiwan are not freely making their own choices. They are operating under duress.
I happen to know quite a few people of Taiwanese background living here in the states. All of them want an independent Taiwan
After moving from a major imperial satrap to the imperial core, my friends developed an even more fervent loyalty towards the empire. This proves the satrap is not, in fact, occupied territory.
23 March 2004: A scuffle erupted between the ruling and opposition party members over vote recounts from the presidential election.
7 May 2004: Legislator Zhu Xingyu grabbed legislator William Lai and tried to wrestle him onto a desk and headbutt him, and jabbed him in the stomach, due to disagreements over legislative procedures.
26 October 2004: A food fight took place between the opposition and ruling party during a debate on a military hardware purchase ordinance.
30 May 2006: Then opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wang Shu-hui snatched a written proposal and shoved it into her mouth to prevent voting on allowing direct transportation links with Mainland China. Ruling party members tried to force her to cough it up by pulling her hair. She later spat it out but tore it up.
8 May 2007: Several members of the ruling DPP and opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party fought over control of the Speaker's podium, with some throwing punches and spraying water over an alleged delay of the annual budget. At least one person was admitted to hospital.
However this month's (note: Article dated July, 2017) fights have become even uglier. Last Thursday, legislators lifted up and threw chairs at each other when they brawled over the ruling DPP's massive $29bn (£22bn) infrastructure spending bill, which the opposition (headed by the KMT) claims benefits cities and counties loyal to the DPP and is aimed at helping the party win forthcoming elections.
The fighting continued on Tuesday in a legislative committee meeting. The opposition KMT legislators wrestled DPP members to the floor and unplugged the cables of loud speakers to prevent the DPP from putting the bill through a committee review to move it towards passage into law.
Friendly reminder that the KMT party is the modern incarnation of the invading military junta that took over the island after losing a five-year-long civil war intended to ideologically cleanse the mainland of Maoist influence.
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I kinda feel the same, like I would of course love to see Taiwan go left, whether as a part of China or otherwise, but as for the whole nationality dispute it's not like it's gonna be resolved soon so I don't pay it much mind honestly.
Taiwan goes full communism would be a good d plot twist.
Imagine if it goes like ultra and starts shitfest with china over revisionism
Far fetched, but hey, never say never!
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Forced integration, a tiered system of treatment and power, stealing land, etc. Somewhere in the range of cultural genocide and genocide.
They are one of the swing voters who support the KMT as someone who bearly pays attention to their politics. Mild animosity to the DPP.
Taiwan exists primarily because of US interventionism. If during the civil war the confederates retreated to Cuba and took over the island and then a foreign power came in and started sailing warships between Cuba and the US ever since to keep the mainland from attacking it would be weird to just say "ya just let the confederates have Cuba whatever". Taiwan doesnt just want to exist as a little island off the coast of its biggest rival forever, thats not a sustainable thing. Taiwan is also increasingly posturing against China and continually increasing US military presence in the region, its ridiculous to think this situation wont blow over at some point with Taiwan actively conspiring against China like that.
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The reasons for unification cant really be dismissed this way. Remember that actual separatism in Taiwan is not a popular position. its a similar predicament as korea, also because of us intervention, and reunification is very popular in korea still
Far more comparable to South Korea or the Philippines, which the US has kept under occupation for decades.
No more than anyone seriously thinking Cuba will ever govern the United States.
But Taiwan is also home to a US nuclear arsenal, routinely hosts US warships, and gives the US Navy and Airforce free rein over its sea and air space. It is at least a big of a threat as Soviet weapons systems stationed in Cuba during the 60s. If the US and China ever came into open military conflict, Taiwan would quickly become a major base of operations for American aggression against the Chinese mainland.
I'm pretty firmly pro-China but I feel the same way about all these claims. It obviously operates as an independent state and it's idealistic to declare which states are and are not 'legitimate'. If it functions as a state, it's a state (even if you don't want it to be).
The bigger problem with Taiwan is historical. The purge of communists in Taiwan was about as brutal as anywhere else in the world. And the post-occupation purge was followed by decades of fear-mongering and propaganda. Not unlike what occurred in Hong Kong, culminating in the '19 riots. This has established conditions on the island that compel locals to bend to western policy.
An independent Taiwan is not a problem, on its face. But Taiwan as a floating base for American military - including a fully-functional nuclear arsenal that posses more of a treat to China than the USSR's weapons stationed on Cuba during the 60s - is a huge problem. A Taiwanese population that becomes a breeding ground for anti-CCP agitation, spying, terrorism, and torture is a huge problem. A major population center that is under foreign military occupation - not unlike South Vietnam or South Korea suffered for decades - is a huge problem.
Taiwan isn't an independent province. It is an American colony, on par with The Philippines, Haiti, Grenada, and Guam. Even before you start sounding like a Rhodesian, talking about the rights of a bunch of settler-colonialists to self-determination - you need to come to terms with the literal material conditions of the island. People in Taiwan are not freely making their own choices. They are operating under duress.
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After moving from a major imperial satrap to the imperial core, my friends developed an even more fervent loyalty towards the empire. This proves the satrap is not, in fact, occupied territory.
Taiwan's brawling in parliament is a political way of life
Taiwan's notable brawls
23 March 2004: A scuffle erupted between the ruling and opposition party members over vote recounts from the presidential election.
7 May 2004: Legislator Zhu Xingyu grabbed legislator William Lai and tried to wrestle him onto a desk and headbutt him, and jabbed him in the stomach, due to disagreements over legislative procedures.
26 October 2004: A food fight took place between the opposition and ruling party during a debate on a military hardware purchase ordinance.
30 May 2006: Then opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wang Shu-hui snatched a written proposal and shoved it into her mouth to prevent voting on allowing direct transportation links with Mainland China. Ruling party members tried to force her to cough it up by pulling her hair. She later spat it out but tore it up.
8 May 2007: Several members of the ruling DPP and opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party fought over control of the Speaker's podium, with some throwing punches and spraying water over an alleged delay of the annual budget. At least one person was admitted to hospital.
Friendly reminder that the KMT party is the modern incarnation of the invading military junta that took over the island after losing a five-year-long civil war intended to ideologically cleanse the mainland of Maoist influence.