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)
Sorry. Chinese or Taiwanese, I don’t think any expat seriously believes that its possible to overthrow the PRC. It’s just ragebaiting and cathartism.
Why not? It’s common for people who emigrate from socialist countries to hold far-right views. You’re giving him far more credit than he’s asking for.
They may hold them, but believe it’s unrealistic. I am sure much the Iranian diaspora wants an end to their regime, but it’s also not likely it can be achieved without intervention at least. Same with the Cuban diaspora and Cuba. Obviously no-one is going to intervene to remove the Chinese government, so it’s a non-starter.
What they want they likely know is not possible.
Imagine thinking that Cuban diaspora aren’t serious about overthrowing the Cuban government. Are you for fucking real?
They agitate for it, some petition/pressure the US government to do it, but calling for it on a forum is hardly actually doing anything about it.
So they are, in fact, serious about it.
Are socialists who call for the US government to be overthrown “serious” about it? What’s your point?
Stay on topic
Not what I asked you. If some hypothetical Cuban, Iranian or Chinese diaspora calling for the overthrow of those countries governments online can be said to be "serious"about it, then is someone who says the same about the USA government online also equally “serious” about it?
I agree that it won’t happen, but you’re running cover for someone expressing far-right views, for seemingly no reason. This isn’t the first time you’ve done this, either.
I don’t regard any expat of any country who holds contempt for the government that runs it as being inherently far-right. An Iranian who lives in the USA who wants the regime to fall is not far-right, same with a Cuban, or whoever. I reject your presuppositions.
You heard it here! Mark Rubio: not far-right! Just a sensible moderate
Is Marco Rubio now representative of every single expat of Cuba?
Not what anyone said
So why does Marco Rubio in particular matter then?
Desiring the overthrow of the left-wing government, and the restoration of the far-right nationalist government that was overthrown by the leftists, is a far-right viewpoint. Reject the presuppositions all you like, you’re continuing to run interference for right-wingers. This is a pattern from you, you’ve done this before.
I suspect they do not actually want the return of a KMT government in China. But I haven’t asked them.
You likely regard anyone who opposes in any way the Chinese, Iranian or Cuban governments as being inherently far-right.
He directly stated that the Republic of China is the legitimate ruler of all of China, mainland and Taiwan included. When someone directly tells you something, why on Earth are you suspecting them of lying? Further, no, I don’t consider anyone who opposes China’s, Iran’s, or Cuba’s government in any way to be far-right. You seem extraordinarily comfortable with inventing views for other people.
The ROC is not, currently, a one-party dictatorship. I would project he would want their system of governance. That said, it’s obviously all fantastical and he’s likely just venting/ragebaiting certain people here.
I don’t really have any reason to trust your assessment of him.