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> However, it would be a major step for other countries to decide that Taiwan no longer legally belongs to China. What one means by belongs to China is another

> However, it would be a major step for other countries to decide that Taiwan no longer legally belongs to China. What one means by belongs to China is another matter. Not saying you have, but people will conflate the government of China with China. Taiwan does not belong the current ruling government of China and you will not find many governments which say so.

DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
In terms of international law, the distinction you're drawing between China and the PRC is irrelevant. Legally speaking, Taiwan was recognized as part of China. The fact that there was a revolution in China does not change that, legally speaking. If such a principle were to be accepted, that a country's territory is called into question every time there's a revolution, it would open a Pandora's box. Recognizing Taiwan as a formally independent state would be a major step, and it would open up all sorts of previously settled questions about what national sovereignty means. > you will not find many governments which say so You will find almost no governments that dispute it. Again, recognizing the formal independence of a territory that has been internationally recognized as part of China would be a major break with previous conceptions of national sovereignty.
- another_story 4y ago
  According to whose international law? The distinction is at the heart of the issue depending which country you ask.
  - DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
    There is no legal distinction between the PRC and China. The PRC is China on the international stage. As far as I know, no country makes a distinction between China and the state that runs it. There is a handful of countries in the world that consider the ROC (i.e., Taiwan) to be the true government of China - countries such as the Vatican City and the Marshall Islands. As I understand it, the Vatican still recognizes the ROC because that's a negotiating chip it can play in its dispute with the PRC over how bishops are named in China.
    - another_story 4y ago
      There are a handful of countries which do still recognize the ROC as the legal government of China. It has gotten smaller as China has bought many out over the last few decade. So, yes, there is a legal distinction depending on who you ask.

DiogenesKynikos 4y ago

In terms of international law, the distinction you're drawing between China and the PRC is irrelevant. Legally speaking, Taiwan was recognized as part of China. The fact that there was a revolution in China does not change that, legally speaking. If such a principle were to be accepted, that a country's territory is called into question every time there's a revolution, it would open a Pandora's box. Recognizing Taiwan as a formally independent state would be a major step, and it would open up all sorts of previously settled questions about what national sovereignty means. > you will not find many governments which say so You will find almost no governments that dispute it. Again, recognizing the formal independence of a territory that has been internationally recognized as part of China would be a major break with previous conceptions of national sovereignty.

another_story 4y ago
According to whose international law? The distinction is at the heart of the issue depending which country you ask.
- DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
  There is no legal distinction between the PRC and China. The PRC is China on the international stage. As far as I know, no country makes a distinction between China and the state that runs it. There is a handful of countries in the world that consider the ROC (i.e., Taiwan) to be the true government of China - countries such as the Vatican City and the Marshall Islands. As I understand it, the Vatican still recognizes the ROC because that's a negotiating chip it can play in its dispute with the PRC over how bishops are named in China.
  - another_story 4y ago
    There are a handful of countries which do still recognize the ROC as the legal government of China. It has gotten smaller as China has bought many out over the last few decade. So, yes, there is a legal distinction depending on who you ask.