My Chinese friends will hate me if I tell them this, but...
Taiwan (technically) still belongs to the U.S.!
In the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952, Japan ceded full administrative authority over Taiwan to the United States of America. This treaty is still legally active today.
What does this mean? Well, since the "fundamental rights" protected by the US Constitution apply to all areas under the jurisdiction of the US, Congress is thus constitutionally obligated to provide Taiwan with military defense in the event of an invasion by China. In other words, a Chinese attack on Taiwan is an attack on America, and that is how it will be treated.
Ironically, this means that if Taiwan does declare "formal independence," that independence will be not from China, but rather from The United States.
Now, this doesn't change the situation as it stands today, but it goes a long way toward explaining America's Taiwan policy, and why the status quo is what it is:
Since Taiwan technically belongs to us, we have to defend it if China attacks. We say that we will defend Taiwan, in order to deter China from invading, and this is not an empty threat. But on the other hand, we have to make that military assistance conditional, to prevent the Taiwanese from taking it for granted and actually declaring independence, thus triggering a war that we really don't want. So, we tell the Taiwanese that if they unilaterally declare independence, they're on their own. This is conveniently justified by the fact that a legally independent Taiwan would no longer be under the administrative authority of the United States, and our obligation to defend it would thus be nullified. So, China cannot attack Taiwan without automatically starting a Sino-American war, and Taiwan cannot declare independence because China will automatically invade, probably without American interference. The status quo is unbreakable, unless either A. The Chinese give up their claims to Taiwan, or B. The Taiwanese willingly accept unification with China.
I used to think that our current Taiwan policy was nonsensical and hypocritical, but in reality, it's perfectly logical. Not only that, it's the only option that will prevent war.
These two links provide an thought-provoking analysis of the situation. It sounds kind of obtuse at first, but it's more than just idealism or wishful thinking, because our Taiwan policy really does seem to be based on these principles. Of course, actually saying so would be outrageous to both the Chinese and the Taiwanese, so we don't. But I suspect that the leaders of all three countries are well aware of this situation. Meanwhile, the mainstream media and public just don't have a clue.
Taiwanese should seek US Constitutional rights
Taiwan poll should ask about US sovereignty
In the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952, Japan ceded full administrative authority over Taiwan to the United States of America. This treaty is still legally active today.
What does this mean? Well, since the "fundamental rights" protected by the US Constitution apply to all areas under the jurisdiction of the US, Congress is thus constitutionally obligated to provide Taiwan with military defense in the event of an invasion by China. In other words, a Chinese attack on Taiwan is an attack on America, and that is how it will be treated.
Ironically, this means that if Taiwan does declare "formal independence," that independence will be not from China, but rather from The United States.
Now, this doesn't change the situation as it stands today, but it goes a long way toward explaining America's Taiwan policy, and why the status quo is what it is:
Since Taiwan technically belongs to us, we have to defend it if China attacks. We say that we will defend Taiwan, in order to deter China from invading, and this is not an empty threat. But on the other hand, we have to make that military assistance conditional, to prevent the Taiwanese from taking it for granted and actually declaring independence, thus triggering a war that we really don't want. So, we tell the Taiwanese that if they unilaterally declare independence, they're on their own. This is conveniently justified by the fact that a legally independent Taiwan would no longer be under the administrative authority of the United States, and our obligation to defend it would thus be nullified. So, China cannot attack Taiwan without automatically starting a Sino-American war, and Taiwan cannot declare independence because China will automatically invade, probably without American interference. The status quo is unbreakable, unless either A. The Chinese give up their claims to Taiwan, or B. The Taiwanese willingly accept unification with China.
I used to think that our current Taiwan policy was nonsensical and hypocritical, but in reality, it's perfectly logical. Not only that, it's the only option that will prevent war.
These two links provide an thought-provoking analysis of the situation. It sounds kind of obtuse at first, but it's more than just idealism or wishful thinking, because our Taiwan policy really does seem to be based on these principles. Of course, actually saying so would be outrageous to both the Chinese and the Taiwanese, so we don't. But I suspect that the leaders of all three countries are well aware of this situation. Meanwhile, the mainstream media and public just don't have a clue.
Taiwanese should seek US Constitutional rights
Taiwan poll should ask about US sovereignty