Hi,

I'm hearing a lot of policy discussion about China centered around Taiwan. It occured to me, I don't really know anything about Taiwan.

Can someone here give me an explanation (or provide an article) that goes in depth on the history behind the conflict as well as the modern day interpretation?

  • KiaKaha [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Taiwan island has had multiple waves of mainland migration. There’s the indigenous, Astronesian people, then there was the first general diaspora of Fujian migrants. It was broadly considered part of China.

    In 1895, Japan seized Taiwan. Unlike the treatment in South Korea and the mainland, they weren’t as brutal.

    At the end of WWII, the territory of Taiwan was returned to the recognised government of China at the time, being the nationalists, the KMT. Note, at the time they were fighting a civil war against the communists.

    The communists won against the KMT, and the KMT fled to Taiwan, while still keeping claim over all of China. This where a wave of general mainland migrants come from. The USA stepped in to stop the communists from reclaiming Taiwan. The KMT massacred communists and indigenous people in the White Terror.

    The USA eventually switched recognition of the ‘one China’ from the Republic of China govt in Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China govt in Beijing.

    Taiwan transitioned from dictatorship to liberal democracy.

    At this point in time, Taiwan still officially calls itself the Republic of China, but the KMT are a waning political force, and there’s no realistic prospect of them retaking the mainland. Instead, the current party in power, the DPP, is pushing for independence.

    The mainland and Taiwan came to what was called the ‘one China consensus’ a few decades ago, when the KMT was in charge. It basically said that both parties agreed there was only one China, but could interpret that how they wanted. This led to good cross-strait relations. The DPP have since repudiated that.

    The USA has allowed Taiwan to become the world leader in semi-conductor fabrication, which is needed for high end technology. Taiwan is currently starving China (and the EU, lol) of semiconductors.

    Public opinion in Taiwan is not favourable towards reunification.

    The USA wants Taiwan to stay as an allied entity, as part of its efforts to contain China.

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