Forget Trump & Putin - China is the biggest threat to Europe.

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/26/asia/taiwan-votes-china-lawmaker-election-latam-intl

Taiwanese political gridlock endures as China-friendly party survives recall vote

A months-long recall effort to oust lawmakers considered pro-Chinese has failed in the self-governing island's legislature.

www.kosu.org

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

It's quite interesting that they use the term "China-friendly" to describe the KMT.
What is the KMT?
中国国民党，the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party).
Without a doubt, it should inherently be China-friendly.
Unless it has become America's pet.

 

[BobKowalski]

Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/26/asia/taiwan-votes-china-lawmaker-election-latam-intl

Taiwanese political gridlock endures as China-friendly party survives recall vote

A months-long recall effort to oust lawmakers considered pro-Chinese has failed in the self-governing island's legislature.

www.kosu.org

Is there any possibility of a rapprochement and Taiwan accepting status similar to Hong Kong or Macau?

I will state that I have no real insight into Taiwanese politics or the mood of the country etc, so it is very possible that this is a stupid question.

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

Is there any possibility of a rapprochement and Taiwan accepting status similar to Hong Kong or Macau?

I will state that I have no real insight into Taiwanese politics or the mood of the country etc, so it is very possible that this is a stupid question.

Only about 3% of people support unification
30% favor independence
60% prefer maintaining the status quo.
I believe this possibility is extremely low. Because in essence, these political figures, or rather political forces, are controlled by the United States. The U.S. views it as an unsinkable aircraft carrier. Therefore, the U.S. would never accept such an arrangement.

 

[BobKowalski]

Only about 3% of people support unification
30% favor independence
60% prefer maintaining the status quo.
I believe this possibility is extremely low. Because in essence, these political figures, or rather political forces, are controlled by the United States. The U.S. views it as an unsinkable aircraft carrier. Therefore, the U.S. would never accept such an arrangement.

Independence is unlikely as no major country officially recognises Taiwan. I guess I was thinking of the status quo, ie self-governing but within the ROC sphere of influence. Part of China, but separate from China - if that makes sense.

The US problem is its fear of China. It is the worlds leading manufacturing country with the US being the worlds financial centre. The US may cosplay at trying to regain the manufacturing crown, but it’s never going to happen whereas China is making a play at establishing an alternative financial framework outside of US control - and that is direct threat to the US because it does have a chance of succeeding, especially as you have Trump pretty much working on China’s behalf. Add in China’s lead on clean energy tech, strides in AI and it’s no wonder the US is alarmed.

I agree that the US will keep pulling Taiwan away from China, but I don’t know how sustainable that is long term.

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

Independence is unlikely as no major country officially recognises Taiwan. I guess I was thinking of the status quo, ie self-governing but within the ROC sphere of influence. Part of China, but separate from China - if that makes sense.

The US problem is its fear of China. It is the worlds leading manufacturing country with the US being the worlds financial centre. The US may cosplay at trying to regain the manufacturing crown, but it’s never going to happen whereas China is making a play at establishing an alternative financial framework outside of US control - and that is direct threat to the US because it does have a chance of succeeding, especially as you have Trump pretty much working on China’s behalf. Add in China’s lead on clean energy tech, strides in AI and it’s no wonder the US is alarmed.

I agree that the US will keep pulling Taiwan away from China, but I don’t know how sustainable that is long term.

The problem is, ROC has already failed. It is essentially a local separatist regime. Although its name is "Republic of China", it cannot represent China. To barely maintain this lifeless shell only creates space for those attempting to separate this territory from China, which is completely unacceptable to the Chinese people. So the situation is, either become a clearly defined province of China, or choose the war.

I do not believe that separatism holds any justification here. The authorities on an island with a 97% Han Chinese population are pushing a de-Sinicization（去中国化） policy, attempting to make its people no longer identify as Chinese. There is extensive hate-mobilization—some even use the term "Shina（支那）," a derogatory label for Chinese during Japan’s war of aggression, to refer to mainland China. This single detail reveals the utter lack of justice in their cause. I describe this as a lingering outpost of World War II-era Japanese imperialism in today’s world. It is utterly evil, and I see no possibility of peacefully maintaining the so-called "status quo" if this continues.

 

[BobKowalski]

The problem is, ROC has already failed. It is essentially a local separatist regime. Although its name is "Republic of China", it cannot represent China. To barely maintain this lifeless shell only creates space for those attempting to separate this territory from China, which is completely unacceptable to the Chinese people. So the situation is, either become a clearly defined province of China, or choose the war.

I do not believe that separatism holds any justification here. The authorities on an island with a 97% Han Chinese population are pushing a de-Sinicization（去中国化） policy, attempting to make its people no longer identify as Chinese. There is extensive hate-mobilization—some even use the term "Shina（支那）," a derogatory label for Chinese during Japan’s war of aggression, to refer to mainland China. This single detail reveals the utter lack of justice in their cause. I describe this as a lingering outpost of World War II-era Japanese imperialism in today’s world. It is utterly evil, and I see no possibility of peacefully maintaining the so-called "status quo" if this continues.

I meant China, not ROC - I had a total brain fart with that one - ie Taiwan becomes a self governing protectorate state of China.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

Is there any possibility of a rapprochement and Taiwan accepting status similar to Hong Kong or Macau?

Would that be a status which included making a promise to respect local self-governing institutions and then breaking that promise? And then silencing freedom of expression by putting journalists in prison? Yeah, Hong Kong shows the way.

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

I meant China, not ROC - I had a total brain fart with that one - ie Taiwan becomes a self governing protectorate state of China.

I think if there is no war and everything is resolved peacefully, it would likely be closer to the situation in Hongkong.
But the problem is the situation in Hongkong has been distorted. For many years the central government has barely been involved in managing anything in Hongkong, not even basic patriotic education. In the end, serious separatist sentiments emerged. You step back, they step in.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

For many years the central government has barely been involved in managing anything in Hongkong, not even basic patriotic education. In the end, serious separatist sentiments emerged. You step back, they step in.

"serious separatist sentiments" = letting people choose their own way?

As for "basic patriotic education" the Russians are currently having a go at that in the parts of Ukraine their tanks have rolled into.
(Ah - remember tanks?)

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

"serious separatist sentiments" = letting people choose their own way?

As for "basic patriotic education" the Russians are currently having a go at that in the parts of Ukraine their tanks have rolled into.
(Ah - remember tanks?)

Clearly, you have no right to separate any part of China's territory and sovereignty from China. If you insist on challenging the central government of China, you will inevitably face its decisive response. And let me be clear—we fully support the China central government. Even if you try ten more times, you will lose ten more times. Frankly, I don’t even think there’s anything worth debating here.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

Clearly, you have no right to separate any part of China's territory and sovereignty from China. If you insist on challenging the central government of China, you will inevitably face its decisive response. And let me be clear—we fully support the China central government. Even if you try ten more times, you will lose ten more times. Frankly, I don’t even think there’s anything worth debating here.

Well, "decisive response" sounds like Nikita Khrushchev saying "we will bury you" (1956?) Brute force again, eh?

And "(nothing) more worth debating here" sounds sadly like saying "shut up, you're wrong."

It's a pity we can't meet in person to find out whether might have more in common than we seem to have, given our differing views of history and out biases as Chinese and English.

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

Good morning! Today is the third anniversary of Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

China is a wild boar. It's somewhat dangerous. But more importantly, it excites hunters.

Ha, what nonsense is this?

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Good morning! Today is the third anniversary of Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Is this the country that your country intends to invade and take over by force resulting in tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of deaths and world wide economic recession. Not really worth it is it, just to satisfy one old man's ego?

 

[Alvin-blue-qhd]

Is this the country that your country intends to invade and take over by force resulting in tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of deaths and world wide economic recession. Not really worth it is it, just to satisfy one old man's ego?

The night on this day three years ago was a moment significant enough to be written into history books. It even influenced the war between Russia and Ukraine. Yes, it's time to express some complex emotions.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

FFS - Forget Xi Jinping and Putin - the United States are the biggest threat to Europe.

 

[Blue and true]

Ha, what nonsense is this?

Lewis Carroll would've been proud of that.

 

[Blue and true]

China is a wild boar. It's somewhat dangerous. But more importantly, it excites hunters.

Who are these excited hunters coming after China?

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

The night on this day three years ago was a moment significant enough to be written into history books. It even influenced the war between Russia and Ukraine. Yes, it's time to express some complex emotions.

It was a politician visiting another country. As I said is it worth all that loss for China, Taiwan and the World just to satisfy one old man's ego. Yes thats right your President Xi Jinping.