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Given that Taiwan is officially known as the "Republic of China," has a government that repeatedly refers to itself as a part of a disunited China, has a signif

Given that Taiwan is officially known as the "Republic of China," has a government that repeatedly refers to itself as a part of a disunited China, has a significant portion of the population who votes for that government and believes that they themselves are Chinese, and understands that it is well within the interests of the United States and Westerners to agitate for an independent Taiwan, it's understandable that the average Chinese person without knowledge of the complicated reality and facing pointed discussion from a foreigner would be confused at best. Propaganda certainly has a role here, but it's not difficult to understand that it's only among the reasons Chinese people hold this view. Consider the United States. With our free and press how many Americans would agree that they are living on land stolen from Native Americans? Or that the acquisition of Hawaii was a clear act of imperialism?

mikeash 10y ago
Part (but by no means all) of the reason Taiwan doesn't claim to be an independent country separate from China is because China gets rather upset any time they suggest that, and the threat of military action is ever present. Regarding your questions at the end, I'd guess around half the American population would agree with those things. (You might have to explain what happened with Hawaii first, I don't know how common knowledge of that history is.) Certainly it's by no means universal, but lots of Americans do acknowledge our past (and even present) sins.
okc 10y ago
For clarification: "In 1945, following the end of World War II, the Republic of China (ROC), led by the Kuomintang (KMT), took control of Taiwan. In 1949, after losing control of mainland China in the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government under the KMT withdrew to Taiwan and Chiang Kai-shek declared martial law." - From wiki's 'history of Taiwan' (I'm not making a point, I just think this context is important to the discussion)

mikeash 10y ago

Part (but by no means all) of the reason Taiwan doesn't claim to be an independent country separate from China is because China gets rather upset any time they suggest that, and the threat of military action is ever present. Regarding your questions at the end, I'd guess around half the American population would agree with those things. (You might have to explain what happened with Hawaii first, I don't know how common knowledge of that history is.) Certainly it's by no means universal, but lots of Americans do acknowledge our past (and even present) sins.

okc 10y ago

For clarification: "In 1945, following the end of World War II, the Republic of China (ROC), led by the Kuomintang (KMT), took control of Taiwan. In 1949, after losing control of mainland China in the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government under the KMT withdrew to Taiwan and Chiang Kai-shek declared martial law." - From wiki's 'history of Taiwan' (I'm not making a point, I just think this context is important to the discussion)