Do you think Taiwan (ROC) is an independent nation?

[Prince of Darkness]

What do you think?
Taiwan has its own elected president, free media, legistlation, and better economy and social welfare overall.

[Exarch]

francesca
you've opened a can of worms here, cuz 'independance' has differnet meanings to most everybody.

do i think Taiwan (ROC) is an independant nation? it is a de facto independant nation, ie,it's got its own embassies, military, diplomatic relations etc etc, but if ur talking about de jure (declared) independance, then of course not and also, independance from what? the taiwan government is named the Republic of China, because it's the very same government which used to run China before they lost the civil war.

if you're talking Taiwan independance, then that's another thing,

[athanaric]

China will grow larger.

[Babur]

China will grow larger.

hey

I was supposed to say that

well China has been generous

so Taiwan will join China maybe

[athanaric]

hey

I was supposed to say that

Too late. I've adapted...

[Prince of Darkness]

francesca
you've opened a can of worms here, cuz 'independance' has differnet meanings to most everybody.

do i think Taiwan (ROC) is an independant nation? it is a de facto independant nation, ie,it's got its own embassies, military, diplomatic relations etc etc, but if ur talking about de jure (declared) independance, then of course not and also, independance from what? the taiwan government is named the Republic of China, because it's the very same government which used to run China before they lost the civil war.

if you're talking Taiwan independance, then that's another thing,

Sorry for being not specific here.
I mean ''de jure'' independence, since many nations still recognized ROC, notably the Vatican. In terms of ''de facto'' I think Taiwan is clear out of China's sphere of influence, and unification with the mainland is rejected by most of our people.
Taiwanese independence, on the other hand, is complicated and cause many heated arguments here in Taiwan. But it certainly will anger China and caused nothing but trouble.

[Jom]

I view Taiwan as a country in its own right although I'm not completely sure why. I suppose if there were to be a referendum amongst the Taiwanese population, a majority would vote to remain under the Republic of China rather than go over to the People's Republic, thus invalidating in my view the PROC's claim on Taiwan as part of China as a whole, with them being the successor government to China.

[RO Citizen]

Noly blind ppl don't see that it is de facto independent, and US&EU indirectly support it. But I would say that, considerng the more and more democratic PRC these days, ROC should reunite with "the mainland provinces".

[Zhangir]

Too few options for voting to be honest

[Mightypeon]

Imho, the Republic of China seem to be very slowly going the way of Hongkong (I give them some 50 years). If they, while making this transition, can even make the PRC a bit more democratic than that is propably good for everybody.

As soon as:
-Living standart on the most of the mainland reaches ROC niveau
-Trade with the mainland dominates ROC foreign trade
-Lack of American power makes America less attractive

The ROC gouverment will propably join in, for a couple of big bribes and without much of a hassle.

[athanaric]

As soon as:
-Living standart on the most of the mainland reaches ROC niveau
-Trade with the mainland dominates ROC foreign trade
-Lack of American power makes America less attractive

The ROC gouverment will propably join in, for a couple of big bribes and without much of a hassle.

More democracy and freedom in mainland China would also greatly enhance its attractiveness for the ROC.

[Tiberios]

I consider the Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese state. The People's Republic of China is an illegitimate rebel state

In all seriousness I consider the ROC as a chinese state along it's mainland counterpart.

[CarbEast]

I think of it as a quasi-independent nationoid.

[Prince of Darkness]

Imho, the Republic of China seem to be very slowly going the way of Hongkong (I give them some 50 years). If they, while making this transition, can even make the PRC a bit more democratic than that is propably good for everybody.

As soon as:
-Living standart on the most of the mainland reaches ROC niveau
-Trade with the mainland dominates ROC foreign trade
-Lack of American power makes America less attractive

The ROC gouverment will propably join in, for a couple of big bribes and without much of a hassle.

Most people in Taiwan (especially the ''provincial'' majority whose ancestors immigrate to the island 400 years ago and have little connection to the mainland under Japanese rule) rejects unification.
Some radical ones even propose to change the name of ''Republic of China'' into ''Republic of Taiwan'' and cause many debate between DPP and KMT.
Trade and political relations had vastly improve after KMT's re-takeover of the government. But re-unification is virtually impossible considering the fact that political freedom, living conditions, and social welfare are still vastly different and the fear of the influx of immigrants from the mainland is one of the prime DPP's reason to oppose ECFA. But I think cooperation with the rising mainland is necessary anyway.

Too few options for voting to be honest

What options?

[Exarch]

Most people in Taiwan (especially the ''provincial'' majority whose ancestors immigrate to the island 400 years ago and have little connection to the mainland under Japanese rule) rejects unification.
Some radical ones even propose to change the name of ''Republic of China'' into ''Republic of Taiwan'' and cause many debate between DPP and KMT.
Trade and political relations had vastly improve after KMT's re-takeover of the government. But re-unification is virtually impossible considering the fact that political freedom, living conditions, and social welfare are still vastly different and the fear of the influx of immigrants from the mainland is one of the prime DPP's reason to oppose ECFA. But I think cooperation with the rising mainland is necessary anyway.

i dont think the powers that be in Beijing have a regular provincial attitude in regards to Taiwan; i think they'd much rather include it under the 'one country, many systems' model kinda like hong kong.
it means, the taiwan gov. would still be able to maintain its own civil defence and immigration and exercise a fair amount of autonomy, but under the aegis of China; in this case, a PRC led China.
this means, no major influx oc mainlanders coming to Taiwan, altho there are already some mainlanders who come here to study adn work.
if and/or when China democratises, this might prove interesting, not jsut for Taiwan but for the entire world.

[Darth Red]

Seems better suited for the Acedemy

[Azog 150]

I always think of it as independent

[Exarch]

I always think of it as independent

for all intents and purposes it is, because it functions as the Republic of China.
the Republic of Taiwan doesnt exist.

[hellheaven1987]

for all intents and purposes it is, because it functions as the Republic of China.
the Republic of Taiwan doesnt exist.

Inside Taiwan island, it is Republic of China; that term, however, does not recognize by International Community so it is basically non-exist except in some pacific island countries, which find it a good bargain to gain PRC's support.

Not long ago there is an incident while a ROC passport wielder was refused to get into the fly please the person used an older passport, which only has "Republic of China" on the cover and the person who was checking did not recognize that.

[Prince Odysseus]

As soon as China has a couple of aircraft carriers any question or debate on the legitimacy of the ROC will be defunct.