DPP government says more than 760 statues of Chiang, who ruled the island for nearly three decades, will be swiftly removed.
  • @jaschen@lemm.ee
    56•26 days ago

    Local Taiwanese here, the CKS statues don’t mean shit to us. Just the old KMT people who still think we can still overtake the mainland.

    We are also not moving closer to independence. We are already independent. We have our own currency, our own democratic government who we once again voted to remain independent.

    We do not need China’s support for anything, if anything they need our support with our advanced medical technology and advanced chips.

    • OctospiderEnglish
      19•26 days ago

      I’ve found the term “independence” to be ambiguous when discussing Taiwan. Everyone knows Taiwan is effectively an independent state. But in practice, it is less clear where the government or people of Taiwan stand on the topic. For example, Taiwan has agreed to participate in the Olympics under an ambiguous name, Chinese Taipei. Which is purposively designed to appease notions of independence from China.

      For me, it would encompass the idea of a formal declaration of the Taiwan state. Perhaps even renaming the country from RoC to Taiwan to further solidify that notion, which I think does not have popular support in Taiwan. In fact, the PRC has clearly stated that military action would occur if Taiwan “declared independence”. So, instead of “declaring independence”, I hear that Taiwan instead says “well, we don’t have to declare independence, because we already are. So, we aren’t going to declare it.” Which to me sounds like: “We would officially and unambiguously declare independence, but we are afraid of what the PRC would do if we did. So, instead we are going to act like we don’t have to do it because we already are independent… even though we won’t declare it”. I don’t know… I’m probably just confused.

      • @jaschen@lemm.ee
        10•25 days ago

        The Olympics is just China’s way of swinging their power around and forcing the association to call us that. We rather participate than not.

        As for formal declaration, why go through the trouble? Even China immigration thinks we are a different country. You know, Taiwanese are required to get a Visa to visit the mainland? Why if they think we are part of China?

        We have basically been independent for 75 years now. It’s like a couple that have been together for years and bought a house together. Why have a wedding anymore. Too much hassle.

        • Red Army Dog Cooper
          2•25 days ago

          Hong kong and Macau both requre Visa’s to enter and vise versa, its part of the one china 2 systems moddle that they have extended to Tiwan.

          • @jaschen@lemm.ee
            -1•25 days ago

            They just use their Mainland Travel Permit. Completely different from what we need to do to go into China.

      • @jaschen@lemm.ee
        4•25 days ago

        1. Trade Relationships: While it’s true that China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner and Taiwan is a significant partner for China, this relationship doesn’t necessarily imply dependency or vulnerability for Taiwan. Taiwan specializes in high-value components like semiconductors, which are crucial for various global industries, thereby diversifying its economic engagements beyond China. Taiwan’s strategic economic engagements with other major economies, including the U.S., Japan, and members of the EU, reduce its economic reliance on China.

        2. Medical Technology and Patent Filings: China filing twice as many patents as Taiwan may indicate volume but doesn’t inherently speak to the quality or global impact of these innovations. Taiwan has a well-established reputation in precision healthcare technologies and medical devices, often leading in specialized sectors that are competitive on a global scale. Moreover, the raw number of patents doesn’t directly translate to technological leadership.

        3. Advancements in Semiconductors: Although China is making significant strides in semiconductor technology, Taiwan’s leadership in this area is built on decades of development and deep integration into global supply chains. The technological gap, especially in advanced semiconductor manufacturing (like 5nm and 3nm technologies), is substantial and not easily bridged. U.S. efforts to limit China’s access to cutting-edge technology further compound these challenges for China. Taiwan’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains the world’s most advanced chipmaker, underscoring its strategic value.

        4. China’s Self-Reliance in Chip Technology: While China is working towards self-reliance in semiconductor technology, this is a long-term goal that faces multiple challenges, including sanctions and technological complexities. The Economist article points to a gradual reduction in reliance, but it does not imply that China has achieved parity with global leaders or can do without imports in the near term. The quality and performance of semiconductors are critical, and current global leaders like Taiwan and South Korea hold significant competitive advantages.

    • @nekandroOP
      -13•26 days ago

      Is it? Chiang Kai-shek cemented his place in Chinese history for fighting alongside Sun Yat-sen against the military junta instituted after the fall of Qing. Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong then led China through the Japanese invasion.

      His place in Chinese history is undoubtable. You shouldn’t need to be perfect to be remembered.

      • ShimmeringKoi [comrade/them]English
        65•26 days ago

        I don’t think you should be perfect to be remembered, I think you should at a bare minimum not also be known as “The Butcher of Shanghai” to contemporary historians.

      • Rom [he/him]English
        60•26 days ago

        He put down an anti-government uprising by slaughtering 18,000 people. “Not perfect” is an understatement.

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
        36•26 days ago

        Same argument could be applied to the people like Robert E. Lee who cemented their place in history. It’s just that they happen to be on the wrong side of history just as Chiang Kai-shek is.

      • @mondoman712
        29•26 days ago

        Having a place in history doesn’t automatically mean they should be honoured. There’s plenty of people from history that we can all agree have made a huge impact and yet we wouldn’t want statues of them.

      • TRexBear [they/them]English
        14•26 days ago

        If you need to see a giant chunk of rock shaped like a person to remember them your brain might be smooth and small.

    • plinky [he/him]English
      15•26 days ago

      Wouldn’t it be the opposite, as article mentions ( erase his legacy and the historical link with mainland China.)?

      • @cecinestpasunbotEnglish
        26•26 days ago

        It’s complicated. Chiang Kai-shek was a historical adversary of the CPC and is viewed as a traitor and war criminal in the PRC. However, his nationalist party, the KMT, is alive and well in Taiwan. The CPC currently favors the KMT even though they were former adversaries because the KMT advocates for deepening economic ties to the PRC.

        With this context I’m guessing the KMT’s primary opposition, the DPP, wants to highlight the KMT’s fascist legacy while also conflating the KMT’s and the CPC’s expression of Chinese nationalism. Making that false equivalency is easier because of the KMT’s interest in building stronger economic ties with the mainland.

        Western media usually frames issues from the DPP’s perspective which would explain the commentary in the article.

      • DessalinesA
        8•26 days ago

        Removing his statues could be seen as white-washing the KMT’s history, but I doubt anyone in the PRC is actually mad about it like the article claims.

  • Lexi SneptaurEnglish
    16•26 days ago

    I’m confused as to why this is unfriendly to mainland China. I suppose it may have something to do with China’s intense respect for history, but I’d love to hear someone more familiar weigh in on the subject.

  • DaDragon
    -18•26 days ago

    Isn’t Kai Shek one of the most important founders of Taiwan? Sure, he had his issues (for example, ordering the deaths of a couple folks now and again), but you cannot have modern Taiwan without him. Just like how Mao is an integral part of the shape the modern PRC took.