Should Taiwan be made into a Special Administrative Region of China

[Farnan]

In 2005 China offered Taiwan the chance to be a Special Administrative Region of China, similar to Hong Kong. However, unlike Hong Kong, Taiwan would not receive a PLA garrison and be able to keep its own military. However, Taiwan refused. Given the current closeness between the governments and desire for easing of tension, should China renew the offer and Taiwan accept?

[Justice and Mercy]

Don't see the point.

[Farnan]

Don't see the point.

It would end the tensions between Taiwan and the PRC, Taiwan wouldn't really be giving up anything but its right to declare independence, which no other nation and the majority in Taiwan doesn't support.

[Justice and Mercy]

It would end the tensions between Taiwan and the PRC, Taiwan wouldn't really be giving up anything but its right to declare independence, which no other nation and the majority in Taiwan doesn't support.

That's why it seems like a pointless gesture.

Plus you're not worried about more militant elements in Taiwan going radical because of something like this?

[Mythos]

It would end the tensions between Taiwan and the PRC, Taiwan wouldn't really be giving up anything but its right to declare independence, which no other nation and the majority in Taiwan doesn't support.

What happens when China decides to station some troops in Taiwan or it decides to limit the Taiwanese forces? What happens when it orders Taiwan to stop buying American weapons? How will the US react to what would in effect be an internal affair of China if any of the above happen? All valid questions and I am not even talking into account China staging a massive "terrorist" action and uses it as an excuse to impose control? While this might sound impossible now, the Chinese have proved to be very patient. On the other hand, they haven't proved stupid either. They left Honk Kong untouched like they promised so I don't see why they wouldn't do that with Taiwan too. Still, it would be wise for the Taiwanese to keep China at an arm's length.

[hellheaven1987]

the majority in Taiwan doesn't support.

The majority in Taiwan does not support joining China too.

Basically, Taiwanese are happy about current situation; we want to trade with China but not let their fake communism come to our land.

About US, depends on who is ruling, it may have different feeling; generally, Taiwan's issue is part of Republican political card (and the whole China problem) and Republican did not really want Taiwan to "join" China. On the other hand, Taiwan is a thorn on Democratic Party since Truman's time, and if Taiwan really joins China I have no doubt Democratic Party would put it as "greatest Party victory in 21th Century".

Another interesting issue is that US military does not really want Taiwan to join China too since it would create a big hole on their Pacific frontline (form by Japan, Taiwan and Philippine; ROK is just a forward base).

[Panzerbear]

I do not believe Taiwan would be too terribly interested.

[Mithie]

Should Taiwan be made into a Special Administrative Region of China

No.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

ROC, you lost the civil war, get over it.

[Exarch]

In 2005 China offered Taiwan the chance to be a Special Administrative Region of China, similar to Hong Kong. However, unlike Hong Kong, Taiwan would not receive a PLA garrison and be able to keep its own military. However, Taiwan refused. Given the current closeness between the governments and desire for easing of tension, should China renew the offer and Taiwan accept?

hi farnan
at this moment in time, it'd be a bad idea, i reckon. popular sentiment in taiwan is for the status quo (and the more south one gets, the more independant minded we get)
tho it sounds to me like what the chinese were offering sounded like a commonwealth.

it'd take a coupla decades of close cooperation methinks and friendship before something like that gets accepted.
in taiwan, a lot of the public media particularly english speaking media such as taipeitimes or china post are quite critical of china...it's really complicated.

[Garbarsardar]

hi farnan
at this moment in time, it'd be a bad idea, i reckon. popular sentiment in taiwan is for the status quo (and the more south one gets, the more independant minded we get)
tho it sounds to me like what the chinese were offering sounded like a commonwealth.

it'd take a coupla decades of close cooperation methinks and friendship before something like that gets accepted.
in taiwan, a lot of the public media particularly english speaking media such as taipeitimes or china post are quite critical of china...it's really complicated.

Indeed. It will take all that and an army of Panda bears.

[Exarch]

Indeed. It will take all that and an army of Panda bears.

why did these bears come to mind when you said 'an army of panda bears'

or

Don't post pictures with censored words in them.

[Exarch]

Screw the Commies!

i agree, screw communism
thank god most countries have abandoned it

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

i agree, screw communism
thank god most countries have abandoned it

like china has?

[AqD]

In 2005 China offered Taiwan the chance to be a Special Administrative Region of China, similar to Hong Kong. However, unlike Hong Kong, Taiwan would not receive a PLA garrison and be able to keep its own military. However, Taiwan refused. Given the current closeness between the governments and desire for easing of tension, should China renew the offer and Taiwan accept?

What can they offer except for tyranny and backwardness?

It's well-known that our lame military system couldn't possibly defend ourselves in case of foreign invasion. So if we become part of china, foreign countries wouldn't be able to help legally right? It sounds like a dirty trick...

However, if it becomes as rich and powerful as USA today and the standard living is as good as in Switzerland, then yes we would all come to china voluntarily! (and no need for them to make any offer )

[{BHC} King Jan III Sobieski]

Screw the Commies!

[Admiral Piett]

China is probably too economically centrist to be a true communism. And I always thought the whole point of communism was to stop the big man from exploiting the little man. That condition is rampant in China. Thus, it is not a communism. Although, it is still extremely statist.

[Exarch]

China is probably too economically centrist to be a true communism. And I always thought the whole point of communism was to stop the big man from exploiting the little man. That condition is rampant in China. Thus, it is not a communism.

CCP=Chinese Capitalist Party

does anyone have sources about what conditions the chinese offered taiwan in 05?

[AqD]

CCP=Chinese Capitalist Party

does anyone have sources about what conditions the chinese offered taiwan in 05?

Offer? Nope. Nothing good anyway.

[Admiral Piett]

CCP=Chinese Capitalist Party

does anyone have sources about what conditions the chinese offered taiwan in 05?

Does this mean that the Republican Party is for republicanism? Or that the Democratic Party is for democracy?

They're just meaningless names.