There is no question about Taiwan’s status today. Only an authoritarian regime’s denial of a reality its ideology finds inconvenient.
[Op-ed by Roy Chun Lee, Taiwan’s Ambassador to the EU and Belgium.]
[…]
Over the past 130 years, the people of Taiwan have cultivated a unique identity with a multicultural heritage, drawing not only from Chinese influences but also from the Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, who are widely regarded to be the origin of all Austronesian cultures. Like the identity-building process of most European countries, Taiwan’s journey has been a mixture of darkness and light, suffering and joy, struggle and triumph.
Yet these elements are exactly what make the Taiwanese identity unique and render it a special, like-minded partner to Europe and the world, with or without formal diplomatic recognition.
[…]
Unfortunately, instead of applauding Taiwan, the PRC has continually employed every available method to deny the existence of Taiwan. One of the most frequently used tools is to distort the meaning of UN Resolution 2758, arguing that the Resolution reflects a global consensus that Taiwan is part of the PRC.
This is fake news. The following is a direct quotation from a speech delivered by European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, on behalf of EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in October 2024: “United Nations Resolution 2758 is very short - only 150 words. And among those 150 words, the word ‘Taiwan’ does not appear. The resolution switched representation in the United Nations from the ‘representatives of Chiang Kai-shek’ to the ‘representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China’”.
In short, Resolution 2758 provides no legal basis for the PRC to claim ownership of Taiwan or to deny the fact that Taiwan has existed as a sovereign, independent, and meaningful country for the last 75 years.
[…]
Europe can help deter coercion in the Taiwan Strait.
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First, face the facts: Taiwan is a democracy whose sovereignty is exercised and enjoyed every day by its 23 million people. No amount of propaganda can erase that reality.
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Second, expose and resist coercion: Call out and reject the PRC’s disinformation campaigns, economic blackmail, and military intimidation whenever and wherever they appear.
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And third, invest in partnership: Expand trade, technology, security dialogues, and cultural exchanges with Taiwan, so that shared values can become shared resilience.
[…]
Currently live in Taiwan. Can confirm. We are not China.
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Looking at the comments: sheesh. TIL that the PRC’s Troll army is here, too.
If it wasn’t more noticeable before, that is because everyone’s attention has been elsewhere post-COVID, so this stuff never came up for the 50-cent-army to pick up.
Always has been
Went to Taiwan many times. Can confirm it’s not China.
They speak mandarin. Taiwan of course has a unique culture, just like Sichuan. Still Sichuan is PRC, so will be Taiwan again. After all, the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan aftet defeat. The Kuomintang were chinese.
We speak Mandarin. So did Japan before they became an independent country. So did South Korea. So your argument is flawed. In 1997, we voted in our first president. Something Sichuan didn’t do. Since then, the people of Taiwan decided the type of government we wanted. Something Sichuan didn’t do. We created a healthcare system that is for the people. Something Sichuan didn’t do.
In 2024, there was a 72% voter turn out. We are currently recalling a handful of KMT lawmakers to switch them into the DPP.
The Taiwanese government is the original China. The PRC is just a bunch of rebels that took over the land where China used to occupy and didn’t change the name. You guys went from one dictator (Chiang Kai-shek,) to another director (Xi Ping).
So did Japan before they became an independent country.
Wha-ha-ha? If you mean their archaic dead Chinese variant that was mostly used for poetry and feudal prestigious stuff, it may not be a good comparison to mandarin as the main language. Actually many of the kanji pronunciations are how it would sound, or even whole phrases. I speak neither of the three (third being Japanese), just repeating what my sister would say (she studied lost of languages).
So did South Korea.
I think the situation is similar to Japan, except much of their vocabulary is Chinese in origin. But, ahem, the variant is too a very specific dead idiom.
So your argument is flawed.
But not in what you say. Their argument is flawed in the sense that one country is somehow obligated to all be under one state.
(Has a bit of reminiscence with Kremlin goblins thinking that every Russian-speaking area is their slaves and belongs to them.)
So did Japan before they became an independent country.
Wha-ha-ha? If you mean their archaic dead Chinese variant that was mostly used for poetry and feudal prestigious stuff, it may not be a good comparison to mandarin as the main language. Actually many of the kanji pronunciations are how it would sound, or even whole phrases. I speak neither of the three (third being Japanese), just repeating what my sister would say (she studied lost of languages).
No, Chinese Characters was written language of Japan before Japan even had a written language. Chinese was first written and used in Japan from the 4th AD up till the 9th AD when Japan officially created their own written language. As a matter of fact, most of China wasn’t even a united country during that time.
So did South Korea.
I think the situation is similar to Japan, except much of their vocabulary is Chinese in origin. But, ahem, the variant is too a very specific dead idiom.
Once again, you’re wrong. Korea also used Chinese characters from the 4th Century till the middle of the 1400s. Fun fact, the Chinese language was used for 1100+ years and modern korean was used for around 500 years.
So your argument is flawed.
My argument is fine
I do not disagree with you. I simply see Chinas military power and the desire to take over Taiwan, that I am very certain it will happen and the world cannot stop it.
If you’re Chinese, you can stop it. You didn’t pick your government. Fight for your right to vote for your government.
Do what you did in 1949 when your people fought CKS. But fight for freedom.
The ROI is not United Kingdom.
Austria is not Germany.
Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are separate countries;
as are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka;
as are a number of Arab-speaking countries;
and ROC is not PRC.
The PRC is a Borg ship trying to assimilate the ROC, but the ROC has resisted assimilation for over 75 years.
75 yeara in the course of history is nothing.
Well by that definition, the PRC doesn’t exist. West Taiwan needs to admit that it has been a bad province and rejoin the ROC, aka Actual China, rather than Fake China.
I do not know why you westoids get so salty about Taiwans independence. Is is that you are too brainwashed about “China bad”, that you just automatically follow whatever is against China? China is a worldpower and will 100% continue to dominate the world, just like the USA did. No ammount of crying over it will change that fact.
I do not know why you westoids get so salty about Taiwans independence.
Because they asked for it, and I listened?
The Chinese people are great. We have no problems with the Chinese people.
The problem is the CCP. Fight for your right to pick your own government that works for you.
You sound like the salty brainwashed one. I just used your logic against you. The PRC doesn’t exist since it is only 70 years old. Can’t be a world player since 70 years means nothing according to you. All of modern day PRC is nothing because it isn’t old enough.
台湾第一！中国第四！中华人民共和国等于死亡！
They speak mandarin
So China will be part of Taiwan then?
And Xinjiang and Tibet will become independent countries then, as they speak Uyghur and Tibetic languages rather than Mandarin? Right?
To the best of my understanding, the big joke of the “one China” policy is precisely the “yes” to that first one.
Though that second one never occurred to me: Xinjiang was more or less held from the Qing onwards, but does the ROC actually even claim Tibet?
So China will be part of Taiwan then
If they had the military power, I bet ;)
If they had the military power, I bet ;)
What does that mean? First, you say it is about the common language. If this logic doesn’t hold, it is about military power?
What are you gonna say next, Republic of Ireland is part of UK? They speak English.
Oh, how about, the whole South America is Mexico? Wait, is Spain Mexico too?
I’ve been to Spain and can confirm they speak Mexican there
I see you do not like how the world works. I promise you that Taiwan will be part of PRC eventually. The only reason why the western world cares anyway, is because they are worried about the semiconductor production.
You are naive.
I’m sure the semiconductor industry is important for the global economy, but it’s not just that. The Western world government was voted in and picked by the people of their countries. Just like Taiwan, our democracy picked the type of government we want.
I want to ask you fellow brother. Outside of the blind pride, what has the CCP done for you lately?
It is not that I am a blind CCP follower or disagree with democratic government forms. I simply view it as unavoidable that Taiwan will not be included to mainland China eventually. Besf thing we can hope for is, that Taiwans forwardness to the western world will somehow influence mainland chinese people. But I am afraid the disinformation campaign of CCP is too strong for that.
What has CCP done for me? Build up a large country from dirt and leftovers from colonization, that made my todays life very good. And it is continuing to do so. I think Taiwans wealth comes from the worlds dependence of semiconductor creation, but alas, soon PRC will have that technology as well. It simply seems unavoidable that Taiwan will be able to defend themselves, with the USA being run down by facists and EU as well. Even If Orange Man won’t run for office again, I think republicans will stay in power for a while and therefor be less inclinded to do military intervention If PRC strikes Taiwan.
First of all, thank you for having a civil conversation with me.
I disagree with you on the semiconductors. China doesn’t need Taiwan for that. They are capable at either making it or at the very least, stealing it from Taiwan. They already can’t have anything smaller than 5nm. They are still doing well.
Unfortunately, the CCP built a large country, not because of you. It is benefiting the CCP and if you benefit indirectly, its purely by accident. If one day life isn’t very good for you, you have zero recourse except for accepting your fate. A society functions when everyone has a voice at the table.
In Taiwan, we too were colonized by multiple countries. The Dutch, Spain, and most recently Japan. Our current government that we voted for, at least for now, the benefits are all for the people. We actively prosecute sitting majors and government officials. The major of Taipei is in jail right now because of corruption.
The Swedish Vikings created the settlement that is now Kyiv, and later spread to settle parts of what is now both Ukrainian and Russian.
With your not naive world view, Putin should give his land to Sweden, right? It is what history tells him to do.
I see you do not like how the world works
?
Cope.
Taiwan has been coping for over 75 years.
Before a tankie comes in propagandising the 1992 consensus that says “there is one China, our China”, by which China means PRC (People’s Republic of China) and Taiwan’s ruling party KMT meant RoC (Republic of China), let me add some detail:
After effectively losing the Chinese civil war in 1949 by retreating to Taiwan, RoC martial law era ruling party KMT first threatened to retake China until 1991, and then diluted the plan into “reunification” and cosied up with China. Last time KMT said “one China” was in the 1992 consensus, at the end of martial law. Taiwanese people never agreed with KMT’s hubris or sucking-up, which shows in voting results since the martial law ended.
Now Taiwan is stuck with the official stance of “one China” because China’s (PRC) Anti-secession law of 2005 promises war if Taiwan changes its name from the old “Republic of China” (since 1911 in China, since 1945 on Taiwan) to “Republic of Taiwan”. They missed a chance to become officially Taiwan the country. Most parties in Taiwan support “status quo”, “don’t rock the boat”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Taiwan#Current_political_issuesWe are currently in a recall election right now, outing a handful of KMT lawmakers, to replace the DPP.
Now Taiwan is stuck with the official stance of “one China” because China’s (PRC) Anti-secession law of 2005 promises war if Taiwan changes its name
Except they’re not stuck with anything, since that PRC law has no jurisdiction over them, being a separate sovereign country. It’s just a threat.
It’s just a threat
Yes that’s the issue with the law
Just a credible threat.
This is absolutely correct… but it is as much worth as saying the US has no jurisdiction over you if some US spook think you are an terrorist and living somewhere in Pakistan…
I know that one is (was) 100k people, and the other is (still) 23mln people, but this has the “Artsakh has never been part of independent Azerbaijan” vibes.
“The world” doesn’t care for such arguments, only for who is tastier when killed and meat shared.
There are many Chinese singing and talent competitions. Many Taiwanese will participate and naming their place of origin as “Taiwan province.”
It is eye opening.
What a stupid fucking hill to die on.
Most of these talent shows, esp the international ones, want to be able to broadcast into China. So for them to do so, they have to abide by the PRC rules. The talent that are singing are not famous enough in Taiwan and is willing to give up their country for a 1 min of fam.
All countries of the european union accept the consensus that taiwan is part of china.
Taiwan is a Country? Yes Taiwan is an official country? No
Every country in the world considers Taiwan to be offically part of China. The difference is what government they consider legitimate. As for the EU, Taiwan is de facto treated as an independent country with nearly all countries having de facto embassies in Taiwan and Taiwan having de facto embassies in EU countries as well.
So accept might be quite strong in this case.
At least in Germany, the consensus is, that they support a peaceful reunification.
Been to Germany many times. There is no such consensus about reunification.
Hey, I am talking about the political stance of the government. Not whaf people might think.
Die Bundesregierung betont einerseits die Ein-China-Politik, unterhält andererseits aber unterhalb der diplomatischen Anerkennung Kontakte mit Taiwan
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2023-04/taiwan-annalena-baerbock-china-eskalation-wang-yi
You:
At least in Germany, the consensus is, that they support a peaceful reunification.
Translation of your quote:
On the one hand, the Federal Government emphasizes one-China policy, but on the other hand maintains contacts with Taiwan below the diplomatic recognition
That alone basically says the political stance is multi-faceted and nowhere near a “consensus”.
The article states that China demands support for re-unification with China, and Germany warns China against attacking Taiwan.
Yes, the sentence you quoted is in the article, but it’s not central to it, and all the rest of it opposes your claims.
Thank you for clarefying. See my other comment, why I think germany would not oppose a peaceful reunification.
Peaceful being the operative word. If Taiwan democratically elects to join the PRC then yes, Germany would accept that. If China invades and holds a Russia style “referendum” then no, Germany would not consider that legitimate. Only one of those is a likely scenario, and it’s not the first one.
Remains to be seen
At least in Germany, the consensus is, that they support a peaceful reunification.
No. That’s not true.
Read my other comment. The Bundesregierung accepts the one china policy.
Your comments are (intentionally?) misleading. The German government does not accept reunification, let alone by force.
Not intentonally. It is how I understood germanys stance. To me it sounds like they would not oppose a peaceful reunification. But as it have been pointed out, there is room for interpretation. Germany seems to not hold diplomatic relationships with Taiwan, so it seems to me, that if PRC tries to reunify Taiwan with itself, as long as it is peaceful (however that is possible), the curreny Government would not put sanctions on PRC, because of course that would be even stupider than applying sanctions on russian gas for the economy of germany. Please understand that I do not approve of russian doings, and do not mind the higher gas price, but it seriouly did hurt the economy, which is itself stagnating right now. How I assune Friddrich Merz positions, he would not allow it to be damaged even further. At the end, germany would accept more or less willingly, a peaceful reunification.
Please refer to page 13 for germanys stance on the one china policy.
Your entire behaviour and line of argumentation in this thread is almost hilarious. You are frequently relativizing and sometimes completely retracting your own arguments after they have proven wrong, and now you are posting a document to ‘refer to Germany’s stance’. What a waste of time.
Nothing has been proven wrong here buddy. Admiting being wrong is a strengh btw. Yeah, I linked a document. Have you read it?
That’s diplomacy
Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, who are widely regarded to be the origin of all Austronesian cultures.
What happens if they decolonialize and hand over control to the indigenous people and stay there with refugee status?
So you want the indigenous population to run an ethnic supremacist island with an underclass of Han Chinese?
Can’t imagine what Xi would do with that excuse.
Maybe they should just stay a democracy.
If he can’t use that excuse because they don’t turn it into a supremacist country, would it still be a bad idea? Taiwan could become a better South Africa. China would be compelled to accept it from their dedication to BRICS.
and stay there with refugee status
Uh… that’s not what refugee means.
What does it mean and what have I implied?
You answer that. Who are “they” and why should they be considered refugees?
“They” are the non-natives. If they are not part of Taiwan then China has no claim to integrate it.
“They” still need to keep living. So some legal form must be found to allow them to stay and keep living their lives.
I see what you mean then, but nobody’s gonna buy that. China certainly won’t. Also most Han Taiwanese people have nothing to do with the Kuomintang, with Han migration going in since the 13th century, so the line of who is a native and who isn’t is much blurrier than it sounds.
Why should they?
They could, if it ends the conflict with China and prevents war.
They also could to make up for their colonial past, or for whatever other reason there could be.
Before clarifying if they should it should be clarified what will happen. E.g. if China takes it as a reason for war, there is no need to think any further.
China also could just stop threatening Taiwan with invasion, that would also end the conflict with China and prevent war
Of course, but not something that Taiwan can do.
Yep. I just don’t think victim-blaming is a right thing to say in this case; it’s not Taiwan threatening China but China threatening Taiwan
What do you mean? What have you perceived as victim blaming?
Blaming Taiwan for not fixing the “conflict”
