I understand the historical significance since the nationalists retreated to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War.
Back then, and for perhaps the middle part of the 20th century, there was a threat of a government in exile claiming mainland China. Historically, then, there was your impetus for invasion.
However, China has since grown significantly, and Taiwan no longer claims to be the government of mainland China, so that reason goes away.
Another reason people give: control the supply of chips. Yet, wouldn’t the Fabs, given their sensitive nature, be likely to be significantly destroyed in the process of an invasion?
Even still, China now has its own academia and engineering, and is larger than Taiwan. Hence, even without the corporate espionage mainland China is known for, wouldn’t investing in their burgeoning semiconductor industry make more sense, rather than spending that money on war?
People mention that taking Taiwan would be a breakout from the “containment” imposed by the ring of U.S. allies in the region.
Yet while taking Taiwan would mean access to deep-water ports, it’s not as though Taiwan would ever pose a threat to Chinese power projection—their stance is wholly defensive. If China decided to pull an “America” and send a carrier to the Middle East or something, no one would stop them and risk a war.
So what is it then? Is it just for national pride and glory? Is it to create a legacy for their leadership? The gamble just doesn’t really seem worth it.
Anyway, appreciate your opinions thanks!
I think this should never be mentioned without also pointing out that the island of Taiwan has never been a part of China.
The PLA has never stepped foot on the island of Taiwan, correct.
But Qing Dynasty has ruled Taiwan, and now the Republic of China is currently on Taiwan
But the PRC is not a direct continuation of the Qing.
The USA can’t lay claim to Great Britain just because they used to part of the same country before the revolution.
Taiwan belonged to Qing Dynasty, followed by Japanese Imperial Rule, then they handed it to Republic of China in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allies. Republic of China is the Direct Successor to Qing Dynasty (unless you count the Japanese occupation). Then immediately after WW2 ended, the KMT (who runs the Republic of China) and the CCP had a civil war. The KMT-led ROC was losing so they retreated to Taiwan, where they are currenly located. We call it “Taiwan”, but its technically (according to the constitution of the Government in Taiwan) still called the “Republic of China”, and Taiwan is known as the “Free Area of the Republic of China”, with mainland China technically a communist rebellion. There was never any peace treaties or armistance agreement. The civil war never legally ended or even paused, only de facto paused.
Then after the ROC retreated to Taiwan, the CCP proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. ROC currently exists as a rump state.
So PRC could claim to be the successor to the ROC after an internal struggle.
The difference between the US-Britain sitation is that: (1) The US declared indepence right from the start, and (2) The US and Britain already recognized each other like over 200 years ago. PRC and ROC still have yet to recognize each other’s legitimanct, and as far as I know, ROC still haven’t published a declaration of independence, so they are implicitly still agreeing to the fact that they are both engaged in a civil for succession as the legitimate government of “China”, not for secesion as an independent state.
Basically there are 3 factions. The PRC who views itself as the sole legitimate government of all of China, the ROC who also views itself as the sole legitimate government of China. And the Taiwanese Independence movement supporters, who doesn’t want anything to do with either ROC or PRC.
So if Republic of China want to become Republic of Taiwan, they probably should publish the declaration of independence, otherwise, its still a civil war, an internal struggle for succession to the banner of “China”.
Don’t misunderstand, I am not pro-CCP, I’m on the side of Democracy whether its Republic of Taiwan or a unified Democratic China under Republic of China, but I hope there will be a democratic reunification instead of the situtation now with the CCP in control of over a billion lives.
They don’t have that choice. While independence is quite popular in Taiwan, the PRC has made it very clear that they see any movement toward Taiwanese independence as cause for war. Going so far as to fire literal warning shots over the island in 2022 and 1996.
In what way…? Taiwan has been a part of all Chinese states for centuries.
All?
Sees lemmy.ml address
Ah, that explains it
Lazy adhominem
Literally since before the US was even a thing… so yes, all, for centuries.
So? Before Qing dynasty taiwan was not part of china and became part through conquests. Taiwan has the right to be a separate entity what they dfon’t have right to is to becone the usa puppet and threten china security and the interests that they have right to
Before any region was part of any country it was not part of that country, by definition
Yes. I think that reinforce my argument not yours
You can think that, but you’d be wrong.
Taiwan has been a part of China for far longer than the US has existed. Or that Hawaii has been part of the US. And there’s pretty good support for independence in Hawaii…
While I agree with you overall I would like to make clear that Taiwan was not part of China before 1683 when the Qîng Dynasty conquered the Ming rump which fled there (and kicked out the Dutch).
It’s not “far longer” than the US existed, but is far longer than Hawaii has been controlled by the US Empire.
It doesn’t matter. Polities reunify and separate all the time in history. The idea that a polity once becoming part of another can’t separate again is so dumb
Interesting. So the Donbas has a right to leave Ukraine?
Yes but with the legal way with a referendom
Lol, ok. So Taiwan can only separate with a legal referendum held by China?
They are already separated. China has no effective control on taiwan . They ceased the territory to japan. That’s not taiwan fault, only chinese fault. Taiwan population is the one with the autority to decide what they want. If they want to join china again. The united snake has no right to intervene. If taiwan want to stay independemt china has no right to intervene. What china has right to do is protect it’s own security and not let the united snake to use them as a proxy against china
Your argument is similar to israeli claim that they had the right to force their state on local people because palestine land was part of old jewish kingdoms 2000 years ago
So if a rebel army lost a civil war in the US, fled to Hawaii, set up a military dictatorship that exploits and genocides native Hawaiians, we should all just accept that as cool and fine? As long as 50 years have passed and the only people left are the children of the rebels and military dictators who support their “state”?
Edit: also while being supported by China and Russia and all the while having war games where they invade the US from Hawaii 😂
What are you refering too?
The history of China and Taiwan, but using the US and Hawaii as an example