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 really don’t care if everyone in China has a government issued unicorn that farts rainbows and shits soft serve ice cream. We want nothing to do with you. Leave us alone. Why is this so fucking hard for you people to understand?
That’s very hostile for no reason.
Lmfao. 不放棄武統台灣 is hostile.
So you blame me for that and that’s why you’re being hostile to me despite how I was just politely asking your opinion on things?
Well I wasn’t holding you personally responsible but that’s because you guys don’t get to vote for your own leaders. Tell you what: if you vote out Xi and all the other motherfuckers that want to 武統台灣and vote in leaders that recognize Taiwanese sovereignty then we can be real friends.
But you were getting hostile with me personally. We do vote just not directly for the top (honestly a better way to do it imo but sort of beside the point). Also I support a majority of what the current government does with anti corruption and targeted poverty alleviation (which has really helped my parents home village). Taiwan is not important enough to me either way to jeopardise that I’m sorry to say. I think the status quo of posturing and both sides doing nothing works for now and I think most people on the mainland and the island agree with me on that to some degree. If Taiwan reunifies I think it would be nice for some personal reasons I don’t particularly want to get into with strangers but I don’t support use of force I think if Taiwanese wants to break away and go it alone that’s good too if a majority support it.
Tldr: I’m a fence sitter (probably slight lean to reunify but I don’t think that’s my choice to make for other people) on this issue break away reunify not much changes for me outside of thoughts which doesn’t really mean much.