We all know what's stopping this. Hint: it's big and it's supposedly red.

So what will it be? Principle or interest? :aberet:

#$%!$#^# and this one too! :drunk:

Taiwan/the ROC needs to be recognized as nation! If Beijing doesn't like it maybe they should cry to Kofi Annan or try their bound-to-fail invasion of Taiwan!

After all, the Republic of China/Taiwan/Nationalist China is one of the FOUNDING Members of the United Nations, only to be kicked out in the 1970s of because of now-outdated Cold War era geopolitical trends.

Still, it's quite a shame that only 20+ nations- mainly Latin American ones like Nicaragua and African ones like Liberia recognize Taiwan as "China" while the rest of the world recognize Red China as the real China. It's a shame that just because China is much larger (1.2 billion people versus Taiwan's 22 million) that the most of rest of the world has to treat Taiwan like a pariah state (albeit a rich one) just because of this stupid "One-China" policy semantics the US pioneered.

Well, if Taiwan ever declares independence, ditches the ROC name and calls itself the Republic of Taiwan, the ONLY thing that prevents them from getting UN recognition should be the 2 million strong Chinese People's Liberation Army on the mainland...

Ay buhayyyy...

Taiwan will end up like Hongkong, a Chinese satellite country...

Epigone,

I'm afraid I must disagree. I used to live in Taiwan before moving here to Vancouver, Canada.

The native Taiwanese or "benshengren" sense of self-determination or belief that they are ethnically unique among all the Chinese groups means that they will fight for independence if they choose to go that way. After all, they make up 85% of Taiwan's population, while the "waishengren" or those Taiwanese with mainlander roots (from those who fled China in 1949) are not united in supporting either side. Some of the waishengren politicians like Lien Chan and James Soong actually support a more concialtory stance toward the mainland. Most Waishengren actually win out either way, since Taiwan is a very prosperous nation, whether or not it's within the Chinese political sphere.

Still, I really think that it's more than likely that Taiwan will become independent. The sense of Taiwanese nationalism among the benshengren is very strong. After all, their history seperated from the rest of China in 1894 when the Japanese won the first Sino Japanese War and occupied Taiwan for 50 years, only to lose it to Nationalist China when Japan lost World War II. However, when Chiang-Kai Shek's Guo Min Dang soldiers first came to Taiwan, they found the Taiwanese people thoroughly Japanized even to the language. The GMD soldiers treated the Taiwanese as like Japanese in an occupied territory and thus were very cruel- this led to clashes between the soldiers and the govt. and much lamented Feb.28 massacre of many Taiwanese in those initial years of GMD rule. Still, in the 60 years since they came under ROC rule, they slowly made their way up the bureaucratic and political circles of the GMD until one of their own, Lee Tung Hui became president in 1996. Then another more pro-independence president, Chen Shui Bian was elected in 2000.

Even though the current president Chen Shui Bian is under corruption charges and there are mass protests in Taipei, I still think the sense of Taiwanese nationalism is strong.

If Taiwan finally ditches the ROC name and declares independence, I think the Guo Min Jun will fight to the end to make sure the mainlanders/PLA don't destroy Taiwan's dream of an independent nation, which Beijing has vowed to do if Taiwan ever went that path.

Fixed poll choices :thumb:

MSantor,

Taiwanese intelligence is riddled with Chinese spies. According to open sources, such penetrations have paralyzed operations. Not only that. The opposition political party adheres to the one-china policy. How can you beat the odds?!! As one PLA mockingly said, "You, Taiwanese, robbed us of our sovereignty!"

Go visit me in Ottawa on October 26-28, Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies Conference. I always sit beside a lady in her midforties in blazing and blaring red. I read you're in Vancouver. I am presently residing in Birmingham.

Epigone,

No offence but this statement is ludicrous. There would be no way for mainland spies to join the Guo Min Jun/ROC Army because they thoroughly do a background check of every recruit, the same way that it's done in the Canadian Forces! Besides they only recently allowed mainlander/PRC tourists to come visiting Taiwan at all, so I doubt they would have the chance to penetrate as far as intelligence circles by now.

Still, your supposition may be true if there are Taiwan-born ROC citizens who are helping the mainland, who may have met their Chicom contacts via a more "neutral" place like Hong Kong or Macao (even though those two are technically Chinese Special Admin. Regions, Beijing promised the UK and Portugal to allow those regions to keep their democratic local govt.s and laws for a certain time period- up to 50 years for Hong Kong)

If you have any evidence to the contrary, please give me the link.

PS

(Epigone, you know a good place to get a low-cost house in the Surrey area of Vancouver without being gyped by a realtor?)

Human nature. Man is by nature good but if tempted he can go otherwise. CIA Aldrich Ames was thoroughly checked and scrutinized before he became an intelligence officer. He was given polygraph tests every year in front of 3 witnesses. He beat them all. If there is a looming threat of success in the polls by a political opposition that supports the one-china policy then the greater will be the possibility that state organs succcumb too.

Go get a Filipino realtor. They can give you discount. Or apply for subsidized rent housing in government housing so that you can move from one area to another. There is a possibity that you can get assigned for your officer training course in Kingston Ontario. Sayang naman ang pera mo at oras mo kung bibili ka at ibebenta ulit. Baka malugi ka. If worse comes to worse, don't live in ghettos. Hey notice something in Vancouver, MSantor. There are no blacks in Vancouver. Or you'll barely meet one. Puti, asians o mga hinese karamihan diyan.

I'm back in Manila. My immigration lawyer overlooked some important items in my papers. Kaya pahinga muna ako sa Manila. I'll be back in three months. When you get to Kingston for your training in Canadian Forces, email me and then we go bar hopping in Toronto.

Epigone,

Sinabi sa akin sa CFRC na dapat hintayin ko muna yung Canadian citizenship (3 more years), since they don't allow newly landed immigrants to enlist in the forces unless they have a technical or medical skill they really need such as doctors.

BTW, there are black people in Vancouver. You just have go downtown like in Robson Street or Granville. Vancouver is a very cosmopolitan city.


Sorry folks for steering the thread this way.

NOW... :btt:

A mainlander Bei Da professor I talked to in the brief time I studied in Beijing felt strongly that Taiwan IS PART of China. So therefore, so people might not necessarily agree on letting Taiwan get implied independence with UN recognition.

Don't get me wrong though. I don't agree with the mainland Chinese stance. The UN has to recognize Taiwan sooner or later.

Stick it out with Canadian Forces, my good friend MSantor. Do not be enamored with civilian intelligences agencies like the SIS, ASIO,CSIS, CSE,CIA, DIA etc. They're nothing compared to the wealth of intelligence information CF Military Intelligence has. And they're not pussies. It would be almost impossible for a CFRC intelligence officer whether straight or queer to fall into a honey trap. Malamang parausan lang ang NPA amazons diyan sa Vancouver. Pero they are not sentimental enough to beg for their love and attention. They're tough, man. "Stay and die a virgin". That's their code of conduct.I am happy you are determined to be CFRC, Msantor. Saludo ako sa iyo. You will not be able to feel the happpiness I have felt when you decide for CFRC.Keep up the good work!