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Thanks for the detailed response, I see I was missing significant context, and my perception was wrong. I am surprised because I got this notion from some relat

Thanks for the detailed response, I see I was missing significant context, and my perception was wrong. I am surprised because I got this notion from some relatively conservative podcasts I listen to. I will be better informed in the future! In any case though, I think regardless of whether it can be called an invasion or a reunification, the point stands that there can be motivations for doing so that are not monetary (i.e. taking over the fabs) but have more to do with national identity and pride, and I think for the PRC this is such an issue, at least in part. Does that sound like a fair statement to you?

garmaine 5y ago
Someone should do a case study on the propaganda surrounding this issue, because of I don't know of cases where the discussion regarding a political issue is so thoroughly controlled by one side of the discussion as is the case here. China not only controls their own narrative (Taiwan is a renegade province, etc.) but also has set up the opposing narrative as well (Taiwan is the last bastion of a free, democratic China in eternal conflict with the PRC) when the reality is that Taiwan is just Taiwan, an independent nation being bullied by its neighbor. But Taiwan leadership goes along with the one-China nonsense because what other choice do they have? They can't stand up to China on their own, as the US has implied it will only intervene in a conflict if China invades without provocation. So Taiwan's free and independent existence hinges on them doing everything possible to make sure that they do nothing that can possibly be construed as "provoking" China. But yeah, the PRC's reasons for wanting to invade Taiwan seem to be entirely around national identity, pride, and the personal legacy of Xi Jinping. I doubt there's much economic drive for doing so. And for what it's worth, the Taiwanese desire to NOT be part of China (PRC or otherwise) are also driven by a sense of national identity and pride. It was actually economic arguments which led to the cross-straight agreements which caused the downfall of the KMT.

garmaine 5y ago

Someone should do a case study on the propaganda surrounding this issue, because of I don't know of cases where the discussion regarding a political issue is so thoroughly controlled by one side of the discussion as is the case here. China not only controls their own narrative (Taiwan is a renegade province, etc.) but also has set up the opposing narrative as well (Taiwan is the last bastion of a free, democratic China in eternal conflict with the PRC) when the reality is that Taiwan is just Taiwan, an independent nation being bullied by its neighbor. But Taiwan leadership goes along with the one-China nonsense because what other choice do they have? They can't stand up to China on their own, as the US has implied it will only intervene in a conflict if China invades without provocation. So Taiwan's free and independent existence hinges on them doing everything possible to make sure that they do nothing that can possibly be construed as "provoking" China. But yeah, the PRC's reasons for wanting to invade Taiwan seem to be entirely around national identity, pride, and the personal legacy of Xi Jinping. I doubt there's much economic drive for doing so. And for what it's worth, the Taiwanese desire to NOT be part of China (PRC or otherwise) are also driven by a sense of national identity and pride. It was actually economic arguments which led to the cross-straight agreements which caused the downfall of the KMT.