As an middle age native Taiwanese, it is supposed that I am qualified to talk about the realationship between Taiwan (中華民國, Republic of China) and China (中華人民共和國, People’s Republic China). They are so similar in official name, isn’t it?
I was educated and grown up in an atmosphere of reuniting China with Taiwan as major identity. Nowadays, people prefer to keep current regime or to completely stand independent from China. China threats a war for this independent trend. This is the major cause of intense condition between two sides.
History of Cause
In summary, China is still in civil war today.
At WWII, China was the major alliance of Allies. At this moment, China’s government is Republic of China. Soon after WWII, the rebel communist party took over the most territory of China and start a new country People’s Republic of China at 1949. The old China retreated to Taiwan and keep claiming itself the legal representative of China even the new China took its seat in UN at 1971.
Time Changes Everything
After decades of peaceful living, people retreated from China passed away and native born Taiwanese start to refuse recognize them self Chinese.
Today’s Taiwan actually stands like a independent country, it has its own army, president, diplomacy and democracy election.
Compared to Taiwan, China has a long time staying in poor and communist life. But in near decades, the ruling Communist adopts capitalism and make China have great progress in economics, people’s life and international position. But the major regime difference, China is not a democratic government. China calls it ‘Chinese-Style’ democracy.
Confused Generation
Taiwan is basically a Constitutional China. This old Constitution is totally not aligned to current status. But this constitution also reminds Taiwanese who they are (Chinese) and where they are from.
This causes a serious national recognition problem. Taiwanese see them self as an independent country but the Constitution is the most powerful prove they are not. Various strange points are proposed to try to exempt Taiwan from part of China. But none of them are adopted by domestic people or international parties.
The future
In a foreseeable future, there seems no possibility to get independence from China. In contrast, China becomes more powerful day by day. The remaining choices are left into two, reunited by talk or by fight.
I'm Taiwanese
As Taiwanese, it’s a little depressed to recognize that my country , Republic of China, is one step far to sink in the history. All time of its history has quite less peaceful time with complete territory.
If this is the result, so be it. In long China history, dynasty raises and falls. This is not the first time. Also, it won’t be the last time.
The most import thing is, the people. Does the new country have its people a better life?
