Replies

"In order for a region or province to successfully breakaway from its "mother" country"

Sorry Fee, you lost me after this sentence. Taiwan has not been a part of China since it was ceded to the Japanese in an 1895 treaty. After the Japanese defeat in 1945, the allies ceded control of the Taiwan island to the Kuomintang. Therefore, by all intensive purposes, the very same government that was given contorl of the island, still maintains that control today. :)

A bit of a pet peeve but "intensive purposes" actually is "for all intents and purposes."

You're correct about the status of Taiwan. People often get really confused.

CURRENTLY, the government of Tawain (Republic of China) claims to be the legitimate government of ALL of China, including the mainland.

However, some wish Taiwan to stop claiming this, but proclaim itself independent of the rest of China as a separate country.

Somewhat inscrutably from a psychological standpoint, it would bother the PRC more for Taiwan to declare itself independent than it would for Taiwan to keep claiming it's the legitimate government of all of China.

I would not use that argument for Taiwanese independence, because an avid proChinese person familiar with US History can counter that since California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona were never part of the US prior to 1848, you would not oppose Mexico's right to arm and support Latino separatist in US to rebel and declare those states independent from US? I think the real issue is not that Taiwan is part or not part of China. The Chinese can argue that Taiwan was part of Ming Dynasty since 1621. The native Taiwanese will argue that they were separate and distinct before Ming rule. The Taiwanese Chinese debate will become like many territorial disputes, how far back in history does one want to go? I think the main issue for us is what is in the US interest and can we strategicly back our position. Taiwan wants independence, can the US back such a move and what is the strategic price? I think there are military/strategic realities that will prevent support. We are in the beginning of a war with the Islamic world. It is possible that the war can degenerate into a war between civilizations (US versus Islamic non government forces supported by private Islamic manpower and money). This is not a minor undertaking, and it will require alot of US time, money and resources. Do we have the strength and resources to fight Islamic terrorist and take on Chinese reaction if we support Taiwan independence. Remember China may back down against US forces, but she can restart her support of liberation movements in South America and Africa against US interests.