Taiwan’s official stance is such only because China’s (PRC) Anti-secession law promises war if Taiwan changes its name from the old “Republic of China” (since 1911) to “Republic of Taiwan”.
After effectively losing the civil war in 1949 by retreating to Taiwan, RoC martial law era ruling party KMT first threatened to retake China until 1991, and then diluted the plan into “reunification” and cozied up with China. Last time KMT said “one China” in 1992, at the end of martial law.
Because they had a civil war, and even though the nationalists lost to the communists, they still feel entitled to the whole country. To properly understand present circumstances, you need to understand how we ended up here.
You have to understand their claim as well and how it is rooted in their narrative of history.
The ROC’s claim is they are the legitimate government of China as it’s boundaries were in 1947 when the ROC established a new constituiton. However, in 1949, they retreated to the island of Taiwan and setup a political and economic system. Despite the loss of the civil war, they think they still have a claim on the space and had international support for that claim until 1970.
I don’t think the claim is strong, but it necessary for them to maintain autonomy of the island. It’s a rather unique situation as far as I’m concerned.
And just to head off any heat, I’m not posting this to adjudication whose right and whose wrong, but to clear represent their argument to the best of my limited ability. PRC has a different claim and an interpretation of history.
Did you know that Taiwan calls itself “Republic of China”? It’s official stance is also “one China”, but under ROC rule.
Taiwan’s official stance is such only because China’s (PRC) Anti-secession law promises war if Taiwan changes its name from the old “Republic of China” (since 1911) to “Republic of Taiwan”.
After effectively losing the civil war in 1949 by retreating to Taiwan, RoC martial law era ruling party KMT first threatened to retake China until 1991, and then diluted the plan into “reunification” and cozied up with China. Last time KMT said “one China” in 1992, at the end of martial law.
Taiwanese people never agreed with KMT’s hubris or sucking-up, which shows in voting results since the martial law ended. They missed a chance to become officially Taiwan the country. https://www.quora.com/Did-Taiwan-miss-opportunities-to-declare-independence-from-China-and-establish-the-Republic-of-Taiwan . Now most parties in Taiwan support “status quo”, “don’t rock the boat”.
Why don’t they drop that? Like… No chance unless poo gets dementia.
Because they had a civil war, and even though the nationalists lost to the communists, they still feel entitled to the whole country. To properly understand present circumstances, you need to understand how we ended up here.
You have to understand their claim as well and how it is rooted in their narrative of history.
The ROC’s claim is they are the legitimate government of China as it’s boundaries were in 1947 when the ROC established a new constituiton. However, in 1949, they retreated to the island of Taiwan and setup a political and economic system. Despite the loss of the civil war, they think they still have a claim on the space and had international support for that claim until 1970.
I don’t think the claim is strong, but it necessary for them to maintain autonomy of the island. It’s a rather unique situation as far as I’m concerned.
And just to head off any heat, I’m not posting this to adjudication whose right and whose wrong, but to clear represent their argument to the best of my limited ability. PRC has a different claim and an interpretation of history.