For an American perspective, I've thought about this a lot while talking to Chinese friends, and I wonder if the closest thing to this in American culture (while not being at all equivalent, just analogous) would be claiming that Puerto Rico is the 51st state.

Factually, it is not.

Emotionally, some people may want it to be and may very well have valid arguments for it.

People across the US and Puerto Rico would have strong opinions on either side of the argument.