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According to China (the People's Republic of China), Taiwan (the Republic Of China) is a "renegade province." Both the PRC and the ROC claim that they are the l

by mng2 14y ago

According to China (the People's Republic of China), Taiwan (the Republic Of China) is a "renegade province." Both the PRC and the ROC claim that they are the legitimate government of China. In the US, ever since Nixon instituted the "two China" policy, China is always taken to mean the PRC. Perhaps the security researchers are not aware of this distinction, but I am also not familiar with how the issue is treated in the British press. Taiwan is a major US ally, so if this backdoor is real, then there will be trouble. It would be best for all parties involved for this to turn out to be a false alarm.

nekojima 14y ago
Nixon acknowledged the "One China" policy, not two, when the US shifted diplomatic support from Taiwan (Republic of China) to mainland China (PRC). Taiwan is not a "major" US ally, rather the US is Taiwan's major ally. The US has several other regional countries it has a significantly greater alliances with, such as Japan, South Korea and Philippines. Though through an act of Congress, the US may (depending on the situation) have some obligations to aid Taiwan in its defense if attacked by mainland China.
- mng2 14y ago
  My mistake; I knew that didn't sound right when I typed it.
nl 14y ago
The parent's point is that PRC<->Taiwanese relations are more complex than they appear. Words like "renegade province" make it sound like they are sworn enemies, but the parent is right: it is much more complex than that. As a random but relevant example, Foxconn is a Taiwanese company but much of its manufacturing capacity is on the Chinese mainland. Taiwan is politically an ally of the US, but economically it is much more closely aligned with China.
- mng2 14y ago
  OK, perhaps the parent presented a rhetorical question. I do think that this discussion needs to keep the two governments distinct, so I was trying to give some background. But it seems I may have just muddied the waters by not mentioning how relations are in practice. "Renegade province" is the official stance, but you're right, it is much more complex. In practice Taiwan is autonomous, and the degree of interaction with the mainland is a big political issue -- there were no direct flights between Taiwan and the PRC until just a few years ago. And yet, as you say, Taiwan is economically interlocked with China. It is interesting to see the discussion here and elsewhere focus on China as a bogeyman. I suppose the news fits into the narrative that has been constructed about Chinese espionage and such.

by mng2 14y ago

nekojima 14y ago

Nixon acknowledged the "One China" policy, not two, when the US shifted diplomatic support from Taiwan (Republic of China) to mainland China (PRC). Taiwan is not a "major" US ally, rather the US is Taiwan's major ally. The US has several other regional countries it has a significantly greater alliances with, such as Japan, South Korea and Philippines. Though through an act of Congress, the US may (depending on the situation) have some obligations to aid Taiwan in its defense if attacked by mainland China.

mng2 14y ago
My mistake; I knew that didn't sound right when I typed it.

nl 14y ago

The parent's point is that PRC<->Taiwanese relations are more complex than they appear. Words like "renegade province" make it sound like they are sworn enemies, but the parent is right: it is much more complex than that. As a random but relevant example, Foxconn is a Taiwanese company but much of its manufacturing capacity is on the Chinese mainland. Taiwan is politically an ally of the US, but economically it is much more closely aligned with China.

mng2 14y ago
OK, perhaps the parent presented a rhetorical question. I do think that this discussion needs to keep the two governments distinct, so I was trying to give some background. But it seems I may have just muddied the waters by not mentioning how relations are in practice. "Renegade province" is the official stance, but you're right, it is much more complex. In practice Taiwan is autonomous, and the degree of interaction with the mainland is a big political issue -- there were no direct flights between Taiwan and the PRC until just a few years ago. And yet, as you say, Taiwan is economically interlocked with China. It is interesting to see the discussion here and elsewhere focus on China as a bogeyman. I suppose the news fits into the narrative that has been constructed about Chinese espionage and such.