Is Taiwan part of China?

Question

Taiwanese people say that it isn't, but I know of some Chinese people who would rather kill you than say that it's not part of China.
Taiwan has it's own government, it's own president, and is definately not like China's Communist government.
I'm biased (well, i am Taiwanese), but I think that Taiwan isn't part of China.
What do you think?

Answer 1

I'm not Taiwanese but I'm inclined to agree with you. I'm good on-line friends with someone from Taiwan and she wants the mainland to "leave us alone". I think that an amicable and democratic reunion would be good, but for the time being China persists to have a dubious human rights policy at best, and their performing military exercises near Taiwan under the guise of 'tests' is precisely the type of bullying that the Taiwanese want no part of, it seems to me.

Answer 2

You should stick with the status-quo for now. China has come along way over the past 35 years... and is slowly coming in to alignment with Taiwan in their attitudes. However China still has a long way to go (politically and with law and human rights). All China is concerned with for now is that Taiwan doesn't declare formal independance and embarrass China. The Taiwanese have a great deal of political freedom already... there is no point in antagonising this current China with their mindset of today.

Answer 3

To Ibeeware：

Contrary to what you said, nearly all the civilized world, except for 24 banana states, have diplomatic ties with China and officially regard Taiwan as part of China. Consult your own government.

Answer 4

All depends on who you ask. To us, and most of the civilized world, the answer is no. Just don't ask China. To them, Taiwan is like a child that ran away from home and never left the tree house in the backyard. You still belong to us. Were just going to let you think your in charge. For now! But, wait until your Father gets home!

Answer 5

The political status of Taiwan is a contentious issue. The PRC claims that the ROC (Republic of China) government is illegitimate, referring to it as the "Taiwan Authority".

Answer 6

Taiwan is definitely not part of China.

This can be examined on two levels. First, from the viewpoint of international law. Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895. After the events of Aug. 1945, Chiang Kai-shek was directed to go to Taiwan and accept the surrender of Japanese troops. The surrender ceremonies were held Oct. 25, 1945, in Taipei, thus marking the beginning of the military occupation of Taiwan.

It is important to note that none of the Allies recognized that there was any "transfer of territorial sovereignty" on this Oct. 25, 1945 date. That was only the beginning of the military occupation of Taiwan, pure and simple.

Then in late 1949, the ROC government fled to Taiwan, becoming a government in exile. In the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan renounced the sovereignty of Taiwan, but no "receiving country" was named. The Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty confirmed this arrangement. Hence, under international law, the "territorial sovereignty" of Taiwan does not belong to the ROC.

Additionally, since "territorial sovereignty" always belongs to a government, there is valid rationale in saying that "the sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese people." (Such a statement represents a confusion between the concepts of "popular sovereignty" and "territorial sovereignty." The people have the right to vote, to initiate referendums, impeach officials, etc., etc. so they have popular sovereignty, but that is not equal to having territorial sovereignty.)

Secondly, from the viewpoint of ROC domestic law. When the ROC was founded in 1912, Taiwan was a part of Japan. After CKS accepted the surrender of Japanese troops on October 25, 1945, some ROC government officials claimed in later years that Taiwan had been incorporated into China on this date or perhaps on some later date.

However, according to Article 4 of the ROC Constitution, such "incorporation" would require a resolution of the National Assembly. There is no such resolution of the National Assembly on record.

Hence, from the standpoint of ROC domestic law, Taiwan is not ROC territory.

CONCLUSION #1: Taiwan is not a part of the ROC.

CONCLUSION #2: Taiwan is not a part of the PRC.

CONCLUSION #3: The ROC in Taiwan is an occupying power and a government in exile. It has effective territorial control over Taiwan, but not sovereignty.

CONCLUSION #4: The ROC Constitution is not the "organic law" of the Taiwan cession.

CONCLUSION #5: The ROC/Taiwan will never be able to join the United Nations, because it is not a country.

Answer 7

It used to be China's territory but since they let the exiled set up their own government and nothing to do with it all these years I don't believe they should have rights to it anymore.

Answer 8

Taiwan is independant, but it keeps it's independance low key, because flaunting it would cause China to lose face.

Answer 9

I say Taiwan is part of China, just as the matter of time.

Not in this generation, may happen in the next.

Answer 10

Used to be years and years ago. China still thinks so, but we ( USA ) don't.