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Comment by NhanH | Hacker News Reader

Officially, Taiwan agree to the “One China” stance. They even agree in the 1992 consensus that RoC and PRC does not agree who is the legitimate government of both mainland China and Taiwan islands, but the One China stance itself is not something in dispute.

The constitution of Taiwan claims sovereignty over mainland China, although they added an amendment to differentiate “free area” citizens (Taiwanese) and citizens under control of the “rebellions” (I don’t know if they removed the specific wording yet).

You could argue that Taiwan have to agree to One China by force, as the PRC has made it very clear that the PLA (People’s liberation Army) is invading if Taiwan abandon the stance.

With that in mind, Taiwan and China situation is really similar to a civil war, Taiwan is just a secessionist. And until the situation is resolved, there is nothing wrong with label it “Taiwan, China”

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> is invading if Taiwan abandon the stance.

That is never the truth. They threat for armed attack like since forever 'everyday'. To the point people here just outright ignore their claim and do their daily work.

If somebody even be serious about that. Then they would need live in the air-raid shelter everyday. But who would do that?

> similar to a civil war

Hell no, in my 30 years of live, I have nothing to do with PRC at all except saw them on the TV that they will never give up attacking Taiwan.

Discalaimer: I live here.

Thanks for chiming in! Always great to hear perspectives from people actually living in the places being discussed.

If you had to guess, where do you expect TW/CH relations to be in 50 years? Do you still expect there to be disagreement between the two governments on respective borders and sovereignty or will they someday reach a fully amicable agreement?

I don't think there will be a agreement as long as China is still held by current government.

Although we still speak chinese. The culture already differs too much to the point that there isn't any belongingness in young people.

And thing that is more interest is. Statistically, the lower the age is, the lower the belongingness to PRC they have.

When people grows. The average belongingness will be even lower.

I think that is why PRC is so eager about that currently. 'Before everything is too late.'

China can always force the issue like Russia is…

>With that in mind, Taiwan and China situation is really similar to a civil war, Taiwan is just a secessionist. And until the situation is resolved, there is nothing wrong with label it “Taiwan, China”

this is contrary to nearly everything I have witnessed in my life regarding Taiwan (a place I visited in the earlyish 90s).

> They even agree in the 1992 consensus

This is only a "consensus" between KMT and PRC. Even then the reading is completely different between KMT and PRC. While Taiwan is still called ROC officially, there's no policy on Taiwan or DPP side that there's only one China. DPP's stance is that Taiwan is an independent sovereign nation that is called ROC right now.

> The constitution of Taiwan claims sovereignty over mainland China

The ROC(taiwan) constitution does not define it's territory. In fact, there was a supreme court case regarding this, and the judges' ruling was that this was a major political issue, and thus they could not decide on it.

It's true that there are amendments that define the "free area" for practical purposes, but they do not define what are the other areas.

> With that in mind, Taiwan and China situation is really similar to a civil war, Taiwan is just a secessionist. And until the situation is resolved, there is nothing wrong with label it “Taiwan, China”

This is complete BS propaganda language. The situation of China and Taiwan is pretty much the same as Koreas, the only difference is that the balance between NK and SK isn't that tilted. And the world have no problem labeling Nk and SK differently.

Definitely a Civil War, but it's been going on for almost 100 years. According to Taiwan (NRC), the PRC is an ongoing rebellion. Hindsight being 20/20 Taiwan should have cut its losses back in the 1960s, admitted defeat, and seceded. PRC now has too much military power for that to be a real option.

Technically, wouldn't mainland China/PRC be the secessionist. The ROC was the legitimate government of China until the civil war and now considers itself a government in exile with the PRC illegally occupying the country.

Of course, the entire situation is vastly more complicated because, you know, the Taiwanese natives have their own ideas. And also the various factions have evolved their stances so I think there are like 4 or 5 different possibilities being tossed around.

Amazing sum up, thanks. Just though, I'd say that neither is a secessionist (both want 'one china'). And technically the PRC is a bunch of rebels that are illegally preventing the Taiwan govt from exercising their democratic mandate.

As someone who has spent a significant amount of time living in Taiwan.

These facts grossly do not represent the reality of today. In minimizing Taiwan sovereignty you hurt a whole nation of people only to benefit a terrible regime saving face.

Taiwan is its own country.

Taiwan has a unique political arrangement but they view themselves as China, not as a separate country.

This is getting less true every day as the old die out and the new are born.

Current government doesn't agree on the 1992 consensus. The agreement on "One China" doesn't exist.

Discalaimer: I live here.

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