Everybody knows about the backstory, there was a civil war, KMT fled to Taiwan creating two Chinas sort of, maybe, neither recognises the other, whole thing. ROC (Taiwan) ended up transitioning from military rule to a multi-party democracy, while the PRC (mainland China) didn’t do that (they did reform economically, “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and all that, but still a one-party state, not a multi-party democracy). The status quo right now is that Taiwan is in the grey area of statehood where they function pretty much independently but aren’t properly recognised, and both sides of the strait are feeling pretty tense right now.
Taiwan’s stance on the issue is that they would like to remain politically and economically independent of mainland China, retaining their multi-party democracy, political connections to its allies, economic trade connections, etc. Also, a majority of the people in Taiwan do not support reunification with China.
China’s stance on the issue is that Taiwan should be reunified with the mainland at all costs, ideally peacefully, but war is not ruled out. They argue that Taiwan was unfairly separated from the mainland by imperial powers in their “century of humiliation”. Strategically, taking Taiwan would be beneficial to China as they would have better control of the sea.
Is it even possible for both sides to agree to a peaceful solution? Personally, I can only see two ways this could go about that has the consent of both parties. One, a reformist leader takes power in the mainland and gives up on Taiwan, and the two exist as separate independent nations. Or two, the mainland gets a super-reformist leader that transitions the mainland to a multi-party democracy, and maybe then reunification could be on the table, with Taiwan keeping an autonomous status given the large cultural difference (similar to Hong Kong or Macau’s current status). Both options are, unfortunately, very unlikely to occur in the near future.
A third option (?) would be a pseudo-unification, where Taiwan becomes a recognised country, but there can be free movement of people between the mainland and Taiwan, free trade, that sort of stuff (sort of like the EU? Maybe?). Not sure if the PRC would accept that.
What are your thoughts on a peaceful solution to the crisis that both sides could agree on?
edit: Damn there are crazies in both ends of the arguments. I really don’t think giving Taiwan nukes would help solve the problem.
I think the current best solution, looking at the more reasonable and realistic comments, seems to be to maintain the status quo, at least until both sides of the strait are able to come into some sort of agreement (which seems to be worlds away right now given their current very opposing stances on the issue)
I like how you claim to me in a separate comment that you’re just a smol neutral and don’t really care if Taiwan unifies or not, but are now lecturing an actual Taiwanese person who told you that they do not want to be part of the PRC that actually, they should and the PRC is wonderful.
Such chauvinism.
I think you are illiterate. I have commented with you a few times and you seem incapable of grasping basic premises. I don’t care if Taiwan reunifies I was just curious why he holds the belief he does. He provided a reason that I’m my view starts from a flawed premise so I explained my thoughts on that. None of this was lecturing or chauvinism. Please learn what words mean and figure out how to grasp through lines before you talk to me further so we can have meaningful discussions as opposed to you just arguing in circles about bullshit you made up in your mind.
Yeah, I’m sure you’d query him the same way if he was a Taiwanese person supporting unification.
I would. Why pro reunification people hold their opinions is equally as interesting as pro independence or status quo believers.
Yeah, sorry, I don’t really believe you. Or your framing would be like “What is your favourite thing about the PRC?”
I asked a question out of curiosity after someone came to me and self identified as pro independence. They answered about no democracy, I pointed out we also have democracy. Please just learn to read or fuck off.
Yeah, I doubt they’re going to agree with your interpretation of democracy.
And I will reply to who I like.
Who are you to say what they agree or disagree with. I pointed out we have elections and democracy. That is a fact that they seemingly didn’t know. Why are you here spamming me and accusing me of bullshit just because you are illiterate.
I think it’s likely that they reject how elections are done in China as valid forms of democracy in this case. I know you only reply here to do apologetics for the PRC because it’s pretty obvious your bias is in favour of them.
And I “spam” because you reply back. Me replying to a post once is not what constitutes spam. I always reply to people.
Weird how you’re allowed to read in motives whenever anyone else asks a question, yet you saw no need to establish relevance to the questions you asked me. Clearly, based on the irrelevant questions you asked “out of curiosity” prove that your real positions are not what you claim, since that’s how it works, apparently.
Why do I keep bothering to point out all the many, many points of hypocrisy, double-standards, and self-contradiction of this unapologetic chauvinist? I can’t say.
Don’t get the ‘gotcha’ here at all. Or what you imagine the double-standard or hypocrisy is here at all.
My real position is pro-Taiwan independence (long-term) and pro status-quo now. I don’t think I’ve ever hidden this.
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No, it’s not. Quote me where I have said that Taiwan should immediately start official legislative move towards independence.
I wanted to know precisely why you think the disparity exists, and you never did answer me as to why Taiwanese identity seems to have a majority on the island.
Quote me where I called anyone inferior.