this should answer some of the Question---->
NuclearHead, your acount of Taiwanese history is filled with
half-truths and a selective reading of events.
Firstly, while it may be true that the original Taiwanese were
aboriginal people from the Philipines, this is not a definition of
nationhood, otherwise, Singapore should never be a country as the
original inhabitants were "Orang Laut", and the US should be
rightfully returned to the Native Indians.
Secondly, the later emigration you speak of probably accelerated
during the Ming Dynasty. There was no democratic governance! These
were mostly Ming officials and traders owing their allegiance to
the Ming Emperor. Taiwan was adminsitered loosely by the Ming and
than the Ching for the next 300+ yrs, until the Japanese annexed
the island in 1892, after the Ching govt signed the Treaty of
Shimonoseki.
Thirdly, you claimed that Taiwan was "returned" to China after
WWII, yes, this is correct, minus the quotes, it was a rightful
return, not against the wishes of the Taiwanese people.
Chiang Kai-shek's KMT retreated to Taiwanese after losing the civil
war against the Communists, and establish the alternate nationalist
govt in Taiwan, with the clear expressed aim to return to the
Mainland. This was taught in all taiwanese schools for the next 40
yrs. This is not a separatist govt, it is in all aspects a
re-unification govt!
Fourthly, you claim that the the taiwanese evolved their own
language, culture, religion, etc. Excuse me! Does your knowledge of
culture and history only span 50yrs! The local Taiwanese dialect is
a variation (as all vernacular languages tend to be) of the Fujian
dialect on the Mainland. Its culture is invariably Chinese, with
strong Confucian roots, and its religion is based on Chinese
taoism, with some local flavour. To claim that this is developed
locally by the Taiwanese is like saying New Yorkers speak their own
language as compared to Texans, and therefore are different
languages.
Finally, you claim that the Communists are just being greedy in
wanting Taiwan for its wealth. No doubt you owe this nugget of
insight to pro-Taiwanese independence bluster and sound-bites. I'd
advise you exercise your judgement before subscribing to hubris.
The Chinese economy is set to grow into the largest economy in Asia
within the next 10-20 yrs, with or without Taiwan. Foreign
investment in manufacturing into China (Taiwanese companies
included) outstrips the whole of Asia today, and is set to grow at
an increasing rate for yrs to come. I am pretty sure about 1 thing,
if Taiwan does not declare independence, China will not use
military force, and the Taiwanese can continue to prosper. This
makes a joke of your "China greed" theory. The eventual
re-unification with Taiwan is the objective of China, be it in
50yrs or more. By that time, China is likely to be a economic
powerhouse, Taiwan's economy in all likelihood will be dependent on
China for a sizeable portion of her GDP. THINK!
No NuclearHead, Taiwan to the Mainland,
is an issue of National dignity. China after the humiliation
of Shimonoseki, the lost of HongKong and Macau at the turn of the
century to foreign powers and opportunists, will not allow itself
to be bullied into losing part of her sovereignty again.
There are of course strategic concerns for the Chinese, the US and
the Japanese over Taiwan. I won't go into that.
I suggest you read up on why Chen Shui-bian and Lee Teng-Hui are so
set on Taiwan's independence. The reasons are hardly
altruistic.
Please be careful less you become a mouthpiece for those with less
than honourable intentions
.
from another forum..a poster reply to another..
