taiwanese friends complaining about taiwan? if their friends with her, doesn't that say something?

if the taiwanese have trouble finding jobs, it'll be even more trouble now, when the chinese people come and take it all.

if the people who wanted a chinese president so bad, why didn't they just move to effin china.

TO BLUE SKY

Why are you so obsessed with Taiwan if your some chinese american? Why do the chinese want Taiwan to be a part of them so badly, when the Taiwanese themselves hate china, and rather die than to be a part of them. I know there's nothing more insulting to me than someone calling me "chinese" (only by rednecks, cause MOST asians know I don't look like a chinese :) )

A CHINA NÃO É UM MAL, MAS UM BEM PARA A SOCIEDADE

CHINA BRECA AUMENTOS ABUSIVOS NO AÇO, COMO BRECOU INFLAÇÃO MUNDIAL ABUSIVA. E VEJA MAIS :

Será a primeira em fabricação de computadores portáteis e de televisão e a primeira produtora e consumidora de carvão e aço, mundialmente.

- Disputa o primeiro lugar da poluição mundial com os EUA, embora só tenha um terço da frota automotiva americana e esteja destacando voltosos recursos para a proteção do meio ambiente. Antes, os americanos respondiam por 1/3 da poluição mundial e a imprensa não criticava e se omitia completamente.

-- Nos Jogos Olímpicos de Pequim, o mundo
passará a ter uma verdadeira visão do País, que já é o segundo enderêço preferido para o turismo internacional.

A China não é problema para Brasil e também não é problema para o mundo:

- É o maior exportador mundial de aço e aumentou a sua produção, nos últimos três anos em mais de 40%;
- O aumento de sua produção foi p/evitar a escalada de aumentos internacionais abusivos ( mais de 170%) nos últimos quatro anos e essa iniciativa não beneficiou a China, isoladamente.

Já é o terceiro maior importador de produtos brasileiros, atrás somente dos EUA e da Argentina e, com certeza, será o primeiro em pouco tempo e nos últimos quatro anos deixaram um saldo positivo de mais de US$ 1,7 bilhões em nossa balança comercial.

- Como maior exportador de aço do mundo, a China irá forçar uma redução considerável nos prêços internacionais do produto.

- As reservas internacionais da china, superiores a USD 1,3 trilhões ( a maior do mundo), e com recursos proprios, já financiam mais de 10% do deficit americano;

- É o 2o. país em acesso à Internet;

- Produz 8 em cada 10 tratares do mundo, 7 em cada 10 relógios, uma em cada 2 máquinas fotográficas.

- Embora com somente um terço da área arável do Brasil, pode se tornar uma das primeiras produtoras agrícolas do mundo. O consumo de milho, no país, é superior a 140 milhões de toneladas ou seja, 7% acima de toda a produção nacional de grãos, embora com volume de chuvas anuais de 600 mm e Brasil c/ média de 1,300mm ( mais que o dobro).

- Tem desigualdades sociais gritantes como o Brasil e está corrigindo, inclusive combatendo a corrupção. Mas lá, eles penalizam os infratores e as riquezas ainda estão concentradas em mãos do Estado e não de uma privilegiada minoria capitalista. O mundo vai entender que a China é de importância fundamental para o equilíbrio entre o capitalismo selvagem e o socialismo democrático

I agree with you and Taiwan is better off if they dont confront China... but how long will Taiwan have to wait to be internationally recognize as an independent state. China still want to have Taiwan under control and that is just not fair.
I believe the whole world should pressure china on this matter.
Sano

To Clive:

you sound so dumb in your statement about not being totally free because you can't drive through a red light? I think you should go ahead and drive through a red light so that the incoming traffic will free you from your dumbass!

To Clive:

you sound so dumb in your statement about not being totally free because you can't drive through a red light? I think you should go ahead and drive through a red light so that the incoming traffic will free you from your dumbass!

To Clive:

you sound so dumb in your statement about not being totally free because you can't drive through a red light? I think you should go ahead and drive through a red light so that the incoming traffic will free you from your dumbass!

I say let the Taiwanese declare independence. The poker game comes to the last hand. Show your cards and let the chips fall. If the Americans would like to join the game so be it. I bet you the first "Nuclear Option" would be the selling of the mighty Dollars. The Chinese owned "The art of War." That is why they have so much US dollars in their reserve. No single bullet needs to fire. Both countries will bringing down to their knees by the selling of the mighty dollar. By then no one has the will to fight on. To those who aren't living in China or The US, you need to pray harder because if the 2 economy powerhouse collapse, you are not in a good shape either.

To Traveler from Taiwan:

Your fight for Taiwan independence (if it ever comes to it) will be exactly that - your fight. If the Taiwanese are willing to fight for their indenpenece to the last man, then that's their choice and We will repsect their choice. But if the dream of Taiwan indenpendence is built on American blood and treasure then let me tell you -America would never let the tail wag the dog. If war ever comes between China and taiwan, US will repeal the Taiwan Relations Act, and let chips fall where they may. Maybe the Taiwanese will hold off the Chinese and achieve their long cherished indenpendence or maybe not.

To Traveler from Taiwan:
Don't keep spreading rumors here.If you do have guts,claim your independence and change Taiwan's official name into "Republic of Taiwan" or wahtever,Let's see what will happen!!! Shut up your dirty mouth!!!!

So what's happened to this page? Look at all those comments that try to spread hatred of Japan, of China, and of the rest of the world! And all these were caused by just one single ignorant post on the WaPo by someone who doesn't understand Taiwan at all. To those who keep posting what they call facts on this page: Taiwan itself has never signed any legal document that surrenders its sovereignty to China. This issue is not a legal issue, as China desperately tries to portray it as. Rather, it is a matter of the self-determination of 23 million people whom China has been working to intimidate into silence. If Taiwanese people wish to form a sovereign state, they are entitled to the right to do so. In fact, Taiwan is already an independent country by itself, it is just not recognized by many members of the UN (some of those countries have apparently yielded their rule over themselves even before they have managed to coerce Taiwan into doing so) and a certain portion of its population. Yet, not having formally declared independence does not mean that China or any other countries have justifiable reasons to extend their rule over Taiwanese. Taiwan is a leading democracy in Asia, its people can resolve their OWN issues through democratic procedures. At this moment, the world is surprised by the quick rise of Chinese economic power and its reckless drive of jingoism. We do not want another war, but it is not Taiwan's responsibility to truckle China, China has the moral responsibility not to wage war (or threaten to do so).

BTW Ms. Wang:

During the bad old days here in Taiwan the police under the KMT used to round up prostitutes and give them the choice of doing time or serving in the military brothels on the outlying islands. Finally, in the early 1990s, a crusading legislator put an end to that system.

His name was Chen Shui-bian.

The exclusion of Chinese governments (both ROC and PRC) in the negotiation process of the San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) nullified any legal binding power of the SFPT on China. In addition, the fact that neither ROC nor PRC government ever signed on to SFPT terms, prescribes that the SFPT is irrelevant to any discussion of Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

In Japanese Instrument of Surrender, Japan had already signed away Taiwan to China in 1945. Japan didn't even possess Taiwan's sovereignty in 1951 when SFPT was signed.

3.. 4 flags, fron right to left in the order of Britian, China, USA, and Russia.....

CCP and KMP were here to spread fabrications as facts.
1. Cairo declaration is invalid. Was not ratified by any country. Not important enough to keep a copy in US National Archive Offices.

2. San Fransisco treaty did not return Taiwan to any country. Japan simply surrender its ruling of Taiwan.

3. Chiang Kai-Shek simply occupied Taiwan on behalf of the Allied Force. His deputy accepted Japanes surrener in front of the 4 flags: from right to left, on the stage.

4. Accoding to the international law, as the occupying force (i.e Chiang's force) reached a stage where the occupied territry is stabilized. The residents of the territory should have a vote to decide their own political future.

5. President Chen's and his goverment is not corrupt. His son-in-law is involved in insider-trading. There were some inappropriaties, too. None is finalized in the courts of the law. KMT controlled news media fabricated a lot of stories. World news media used to be either CCP sympathizer or KMT sympathized. World news media ia just slowly coming to realize the existance of "Taiwanese".

6. Taiwanese are mostly "Han" Chinese settled in Taiwan after they have committed sins of exploited aboriginals there. Nonetheless, they have inter-married with aborginals into a unique group of people, except less than 15% of recent immigraants post-WWII, are not Chiness. Their DNA characterization is much different from northern Chinesem, no lesser than Vietnamese, Thai, or Cambodians, i.e. people moved from Africa taken the route via South Asia.

Chinese civil war started in 1946. In 1949, the Communists founded the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Republic Of China (ROC) lost Mainland China, and held up positions in Taiwan in 1950. (Two governments in a typical civil war). In the United Nations, the ROC still occupied the seat belongs to China. ROC was the internationally recognized government of China, legally held the sovereignty of China (Mainland+Taiwan). PRC was still a rebel government. This all changed in 1971.

During late 60's, a movement started in the UN to make PRC the rightful government of China(Mainland+Taiwan). After a series of debates at the UN, as it was recognized by the UN resolutions 1668, 2025, 2159, 2389, 2500, 2642, finally in 1971, the UN passed resolution 2758, which states,

"Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council,

Decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it."

The debate was sealed---PRC is the rightful government to represent China (Mainland+Taiwan). With the passing of UN resolution 2758 the sovereignty of China (Mainland+Taiwan) has been transfered from ROC to PRC. This is decision still stands valid today. Therefore, Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to China.

to Facto:
Has Taiwan changed its official name into "Republic of Taiwan"? If not,why is Taiwan a country?

To those claim self-determination, let me ask you a question. A Mexican family owns a ranch in Texas, they have brought in more relatives from Mexico. Now they want to have a referendum and declare the ranch independent. Can the Mexicans do that?

Fact: Taiwan is a sovereign country. China, a totalitarian regimen, wants to grab Taiwan, by force if it can, or by systemic isolation and encroachment until surrender (or whatever term it can concoct). The people in Taiwan don't want to be part of China. They have been asked, warned, strong-armed or led to believe by others to allow slow encroachment for the sake of "peace" (and other countries' self-interest).

The responsibility of the leaders in Taiwan is to ensure Taiwan's sovereign. They should avoid the war until unavoidable. But they should also prevent encroachment on Taiwan's sovereign, and they should prepare to fight off aggression when it comes.

Taiwan is a democracy. Leaders unwilling or unable to take their responsibilities will not be elected. People in Taiwan can and should take referendum to vote like those in all democracies. People's voice through referendum is the most powerful weapon against encroachment on Taiwan's sovereign, and it can serve to correct misconceptions (propagandized by China) about Taiwan around the globe like the question posted here, and those in some journalists’ mind.

It is shameful to blame the victim, and it is hypocritical for people in democratic countries to entreat people in Taiwan to forgo their right.

to nakko:
Are you still living in Cold-war time?
Wake up!

It will be helpful to clear several definitions for Taiwan and China.

Are people live in Taiwan ethnically Chinese or not? I believe yes, but some hardline Taiwan Independent movement people believe there are enough gene mutation and People in Taiwan are ethnically not Chinese. I believe they believed their own lie.

Is the nation (or the non-nation) of the Republic of China part of People's Republic of China? Apparently not. In the mean time, Independence people said ROC is dead, PRC said the same thing too. For this count, Taiwan Independence suppoirters agree with PRC. But ROC is apparently there, Last I checked, they are not bandits.

Being a Chinese, do they have to be PRC citizen? Can they be a happy ROC citizen? Or a US citizen?

For Taiwan, what exactly will change if Taiwan declared independence? Reaction from PRC is obvious, my question what will Taiwan get.

Is it absolutely necessary for ROC to be part of PRC? This is difference between answer from PRC and ROC.

If independence is declaired, the war will start. Taiwan will need support from US and Japan. How much sacrifice people in Taiwan, Japan and US are willing to make to fight this war. We may calculate this in terms of human suffering and economic suffering. How many mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, Americans and even Japanese are willing to die for Taiwan.

Is people in Taiwan and mainland China really want to sacrifice their life for this cause? Some people are willing to die for it. Question is how long the saciety are willing to accept the suffering.

As to Taiwan, will President Chen willing to fight this war? I think it's 50/50. To have hundreds of thousands people die is easier than to tell his wife not to accept paybacks from rich businessmen.

to Anonymous:
taiwan is a part of China.
taiwan issue is Chinese internal business.
Chinese people will solve the taiwan issue successsfully just like we solve the Hongkong business successfully.

TO A "Taiwanese" American:
Taiwan independence can not be legally achieved through a referendum by on 23 million Chinese live in Taiwan, but such referendum should also include all 1.3 billion Chinese citizens.

If Taiwan separatists want independence without an All China referendum, then separatists should expect a bloody fight to win their independence just like the Americans did in 1776, fair and square. Don't hide behind democracy as if China owes them anything.

China wants peace and prosperity, but China will defend its sovereignty over Taiwan as China has repeatedly warned. Those who refuse to listen will pay.

Part 1
The first internationally recognized treaty concerning Taiwan was the Treaty of Shimonoseki. In 1895, the treaty was signed after China lost the First Sino-Japanese War. Many Taiwan separatists like to stress the fact China ceded Taiwan to Japan "in perpetuality". But another fact should not be overlooked is that Taiwan's sovereignty belonged to China before 1895.Japan ruled Taiwan for 50 years until 1945, during this period many uprises occured.

In 1943, Cairo Declaration was signed to establish the framework of post WWII international relations, which stated "The Three Great Allies are fighting this war to restrain and punish the aggression of Japan. They covet no gain for themselves and have no thought of territorial expansion. It is their purpose that Japan shall be stripped of all the islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since the beginning of the first World War in 1914, >>>and that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China."<<< So here the Allies decleared the intention for the returned of the sovereignty of Taiwan back to China.

Again, in 1945 the Potsdam Proclamation decleared the terms of unconditional surrender of Japan, which states in Article (8) "The terms of the Cairo declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine. " So here the return of Taiwan's sovereignty to China was the condition of Japanese surrender.

Finally, on 9/2/1945, Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which stated in the first paragraph, "We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the Heads of the Governments of the United States, China, and Great Britain on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied Powers." Now the return of Taiwan's sovereignty to China is complete. The "in perpetuality" clause in the Treaty of Shimonoseki was nullified by the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender. As we should note, the sovereignty of Taiwan was returned to the government of Republic Of China (ROC) in 1945.

To Paul Chen,
If you think Taiwan is not part of CHINA,I don't understand why you still hold your Chinese family name"Chen"???????????!!!!
Where did you get the Chinese family name if your ancestors are not Chinese?
shut up your shoot mouth.

There is no such a word"Taiwanese" ,but only Chinese that live in Taiwan. have to remind you guys.

To Anonymous, I just want to present some facts to the public. Your insult on my background is really irrelavent to a rational discussion. Regarding Chinese government, its performance has been nothing but stallar in the past decade. As to what China may do, you can only find out by ceding Taiwan.

It’s funny you should mention corrupt government – the current Taiwanese government is the poster boy of corruption. You have a “president” who was “elected” by staging his own assignation – that, by the way, must be a world record. And what he has accomplished since his “election”, well no much else other than pilfering untold amounts of money from the government coffer to enrich his family… You should do some research of your own before you start attacking someone for telling the inconvenient truth – oh yea, truth is inconvenient, isn't it? If only all those pesky treaties could just go away, and you'd have your "republic of Taiwan”… Anyways if you really believe in Taiwan independence you should go enlist in Taiwanese military. I'm sure they can use some cannon fodder like yourself. As for me, I'll be happy to sign up with the PLA, if US ever intervenes on Taiwan’s behalf. I'll see you on the beach, you nameless, spineless swine.

Hey Bruce Lee O I met Lu,

You must really love your current corrupt government to try and impose your will on others. By the way how did you get into this website, you must either be a foreign student or the integrity officer in China. If you are a foreign student good for you but bad for your family back in China – health reasons, if you are in China I guess you won't live long anyways….past 45 years old

What will China do??? NOTHING... If they try going to war with Taiwan, that will be the end of them, the government, the country and the people. Yes Yes Yes I heard that one of your general was willing to sacrifice all of the north east cost cities if war was to happen with the US. You rich people have no problems sacrificing other people lives. Get a life, we will see what the Chinese government do…..

To "Normal Chinese Citizen",

Are you soon sure that Chinese people are willing to die for Taiwan?

China seems to have a great many issues within; the rich people in the city are living very very well with disregards to the mass population in the rural areas of the country. The rural areas are in a state of crises, for example mass protests, cheating land from the poor, salver (seems like life is cheap for the poor), poor work conditions, pollutions (water, air, food and who knows what else – I think people are not living that long in the current China), corruption (how can we forget this), and who knows what else (kept secret by the current corrupted government).

Now let's try and analysis "Why Chinese people will no die for Taiwan". The rich Chinese would either buy their kids a get of jail free card or move to America with their embezzled money- either way life will not be so good for them in China; business will not be good without foreign companies paying the bill and a source to steal from and what if the Chinese people decided to go back in time and have another Cultural Revolution again. If it happens China would go back to the stone ages.

The noble man will not fight, then the educated people (college grads) will fight. Well let's see, the current China is all about money. The educated are as much into money as any one else, heck they couldn't even afford a home in the city. They are not about to risk their lives for what, unless they are getting paid. They are not going to fight rather they will travel abroad to attend graduate school (gets their Masters and stay in America or Canada).

Who else do you have now, the poor. O yes they will fight for the unjust treatment they have been getting through the current corrupt local governments. Hey normal Chinese citizen, you first need to be healthy in other to fight or even die. If you are living in China, which I doubt (you wouldn't be on this website) – first fix the food you and your family eats then improve your health care – word is that health people go's to the hospital and then die. Fix your own country first before trying to inflect others.

Below are just a few headliners from American's international newspaper "New York Times", it is no wonder why Taiwanese people would not willingly want to joint the one-party communist rule:

"China Bars U.S. Trip for Doctor Who Exposed SARS Cover-Up"

"China Orders Western Newsletter to Halt Operations, Editor Says"

"China: Legal Rights Advocate on Trial"

"As China’s Economy Roars, Consumers Lack Defenders"

P.S. who is going to be the defenders of the consumers or people in China if the communist government is going to put you in jail!!!

Also, WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING INSIDE CHINA..

The legal issues surrounding Taiwan are in favor of China, beyond any shadow of doubt. But the real issue in resolving this conundrum is that China must have enough strategic nukes to make the US realize any armed intervention on Taiwan's behalf carries an unacceptable risk to the US itself. Without the possibility of US intervention, Taiwanese independence is nothing but a wetdream. One of the blogger pointed out that US currently enjoys complete nuclear supremacy over China. It's true. But the point is that China does not need to achieve nuclear parity with the US - it just need to remove any doubt from US policy maker's mind that Chinese strategic nuclear force can survive a first strike and mount a devastating counter strike. Once the Taiwanese are disabused of the false illusion of an American security blanket, they will be more amendable to negotiate a peaceful settlement with China, and the Taiwanese independence movement will be in its
"last throes", to borrow a phrase from Dick.

one word: taiwan want war,just claim independent.
us want war,just support taiwan.
Chinese people will fight to die.

Taiwan independence can not be legally achieved through a referendum by on 23 million Chinese live in Taiwan, but such referendum should also include all 1.3 billion Chinese citizens.

If Taiwan separatists want independence without an All China referendum, then separatists should expect a bloody fight to win their independence just like the Americans did in 1776, fair and square. Don't hide behind democracy as if China owes them anything.

China wants peace and prosperity, but China will defend its sovereignty over Taiwan as China has repeatedly warned. Those who refuse to listen will pay.

Part 3 Taiwan Sovereignty

The reality of control and occupation of territory itself does not--I repeat---DOES NOT constitute sovereignty. When Saddam's Iraq occupied Kuwait in 1991, Iraq didn't have sovereignty of Kuwait. The occupation was illegal, had the world had not the power to expell the Iraqis, the sovereignty of Kuwait still didn't belong to Iraq, but only to the exiled Kuwaiti government, because no treaty had been signed to cede the territory of Kuwait to Iraq. The UN still recognized the Kuwaiti government, Kuwaiti seat was still held by the Kuwaitis. Once enough military power was assembled to expell the Iraqis, the sovereignty of Kuwait was only materialized on the ground, but it had existed all along.

It's the same with Taiwan. It is the UN that installs the sovereignty of Taiwan to China. At this moment, the sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to China(PRC), despite the fact that the jurisdiction of PRC has not reached Taiwan at this point in time. However, since the sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to China/PRC, it is well with in the legal rights of China/PRC to take necessary action to bring Taiwan under its juristdiction, if PRC ever chooses to do so.

The essencial point here is that juristdiction is equivalent to peaceful military occupation which doesn't bring about sovereignty, and the occupation is illegal without sovereignty installed to the occupying authority; however, if an authority legally possesses the sovereignty of a territory, that authority can bring necessary means to remove occupying forces and extend its jurisdiction to such territory.

Part2 Taiwan sovereignty issue.

Chinese civil war started in 1946. In 1949, the Communists founded the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Republic Of China (ROC) lost Mainland China, and held up positions in Taiwan in 1950. (Two governments in a typical civil war). In the United Nations, the ROC still occupied the seat belongs to China. ROC was the internationally recognized government of China, legally held the sovereignty of China (Mainland+Taiwan). PRC was still a rebel government. This all changed in 1971.

During late 60's, a movement started in the UN to make PRC the rightful government of China(Mainland+Taiwan). After a series of debates at the UN, as it was recognized by the UN resolutions 1668, 2025, 2159, 2389, 2500, 2642, finally in 1971, the UN passed resolution 2758, which states,

"Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council,

Decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it."

The debate was sealed---PRC is the rightful government to represent China (Mainland+Taiwan). With the passing of UN resolution 2758 the sovereignty of China (Mainland+Taiwan) has been transfered from ROC to PRC. This is decision still stands valid today. Therefore, Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to China.

I hope this clearifies the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty, which rightfully belongs to China (PRC) at present.

Taiwan's status is a legal issue. Here is a quick rundown.

Part 1
The first internationally recognized treaty concerning Taiwan was the Treaty of Shimonoseki. In 1895, the treaty was signed after China lost the First Sino-Japanese War. Many Taiwan separatists like to stress the fact China ceded Taiwan to Japan "in perpetuality". But another fact should not be overlooked is that Taiwan's sovereignty belonged to China before 1895.Japan ruled Taiwan for 50 years until 1945, during this period many uprises occured.

In 1943, Cairo Declaration was signed to establish the framework of post WWII international relations, which stated "The Three Great Allies are fighting this war to restrain and punish the aggression of Japan. They covet no gain for themselves and have no thought of territorial expansion. It is their purpose that Japan shall be stripped of all the islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since the beginning of the first World War in 1914, >>>and that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China."<<< So here the Allies decleared the intention for the returned of the sovereignty of Taiwan back to China.

Again, in 1945 the Potsdam Proclamation decleared the terms of unconditional surrender of Japan, which states in Article (8) "The terms of the Cairo declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine. " So here the return of Taiwan's sovereignty to China was the condition of Japanese surrender.

Finally, on 9/2/1945, Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which stated in the first paragraph, "We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the Heads of the Governments of the United States, China, and Great Britain on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied Powers." Now the return of Taiwan's sovereignty to China is complete. The "in perpetuality" clause in the Treaty of Shimonoseki was nullified by the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender. As we should note, the sovereignty of Taiwan was returned to the government of Republic Of China (ROC) in 1945.

Absolutely absurd.

Tell me, which nation in the world could get its Independence from its colonizers without 'provoking' them? So what if the so-called leaders in the Mainland China get 'provoked' by the Taiwanese call for Freedom? Taiwanese should settle for nothing less than absolute Independence for themselves.

"Or they could decide to stay out of the conflict. Nothing in the taiwan relation act says the US must defend Taiwan at the risk of starting a nuclear war with China."

Well, that is presumably what the Chinese belligerents hope will happen, but it's very problematic. That is to say, how can the US "stay out of the conflict?" They could simply announce this afternoon: "we will not support Taiwan; go ahead and invade," but this amounts to giving in to nuclear blackmail (from a weaker power, no less) and so is pretty much unthinkable. And it would require an act of Congress anyway. So, absent an explicit renunciation of all support for Taiwan, a conflict would find the US committed to supporting Taiwan in some way. Beijing's nuclear threats, however, don't delineate what the bar is for nuclear retaliation (sending in aircraft carriers vs. sending supplies and arms vs. political support vs. etc.), which leaves the American leadership with almost no option other than a first-strike on China. Given that such a first strike would in all likelihood succeed, America has little incentive to give in to threats.

Of course, this would all be a huge mess, and so the sane leaders on both sides are committed to peaceful resolution of the issue. The only real dangers of escalation come from maverick Taiwanese politicians defying both China and the US by unilaterally declaring independence, or belligerent elements in China's military who are determined to get their way through intimidation. The real danger here is for China, however, in that they are provoking a country with overwhelming nuclear superiority.

The burnden of carrying ROC title is too heavy for local Taiwanese. By its name, KMT and remanants of CKS regime have insisted on making the goverment to govern as it still has the whole China domain. The Taiwanese government is still very inefficient and corrupt. Majority of the beaucracy is inherited KMT remanants. Reform policies and legislatures have been continuously blocked. The Taiwan government needs to be rationalized to govern its current territory only. The only way to do that is to totally revised their constitution. Since, it is opposed by the US Statement department China Lobby group, thus the policy of US president. Taiwan needs a referendum to let the whole world to know what they really wants. Therefore, a referendum is needed.

My god,

Now all the bottom of the barrel scums are beg. to come out. Run for our lives.

Nobody reads the theclearskyblogspot nonsense except
Rush Limbaugh and his crowd. Where are these people from? This is not going to help your readership, try it with Cheney's crowd at NY Post you'll have better luck.

Such high of price for freedom of speech on internet.

What The?:
23 countries recognized Republic of China but not "republic of Taiwan".
Please be aware of this fact.

What the?:
you guy need to make up for your history knowledge. Taiwan has never been a country and won't be in the future,but Republic of China has and the official name of Taiwan is still "Republic of China". Taiwan is only part of Republic of China.
you guy stop spreading that rumor that "Taiwan " is a state.Shut up!!!

The Taiwanese are entitled to self-determination. If they wish to be an independent nation, then they have the right to be one.

However, most Taiwanese support eventual unification between Taiwan and mainland China. Read the analysis titled "Taiwan: the Hustler". http://theclearsky.blogspot.com/#2693605625420434346

If the Taiwanese really wanted independence, they would have already changed their official name from "Republic of China" to "Republic of Taiwan". Yet, the Taiwanese refuse to change the name of Taiwan. The reason is neither Chinese threats nor American pressure. The reason is that most Taiwanese oppose such a change.

For most Taiwanese, being ruled by Beijing is just a mere inconvenience. They are willing to endure this inconvenience if they can earn plenty of money. Indeed, the Taiwanese have voluntarily made Taiwan dependent on mainland China by investing more than $100 billion into more than 50,000 businesses on the mainland. Further, about 1 million Taiwanese (which is 4.5% of the island's population) have already, voluntarily emigrated to China to live and work.

Why should we Americans sacrifice our time, money, and even our lives to prevent a mere inconvenience? We should terminate the Taiwan Relations Act and sever all ties with Taiwan.

Hey,
Guys,You all need to go to school again to study history.Taiwan has never represented as a country .Taiwan's official name is "Republic of China" but not Republic of Taiwan".In 1945 ,Japan returned Taiwan to "Republic of China" ,at that time, Republic of China represented China in the international community.So guys,why Taiwan is not part of China?????
The current complex situation was all caused by the DAm Japanese and Americans. stay out of the matter.Shoot!!!

To me, the proposal for a referendum is a necessary step to rationalize the governance there in Taiwan by its local citizens. KMT party members and the remanants of Chian Kai-Shek regime continuously blocked every reform the goverment had proposed by claiming plots of ill will of the Ah Bien goverment toward independence. Only if and when the will of Taiwan public is known, KMT and CKS followers will stop theie nosense.

Why the world is afraid to know what Taiwan public really wants?

I disagree. I think it is evident by the frenzy entries that it is an effective forum.
The problem stems from the downside of free speech. Which comes with the package. And that is not the fault of the Post.

Matter of fact, I think they should do more of these type of Q&R type of forum. I think by the entries of responses, this has been a health exchanges in opinions with the exception of few miserable few. Which I think was very obvious they are spewing propaganda. And it resulted participants’ snubbing and exposure.

I don’t think we should worried about the educated participants, rather it is the ignorant few that wonders into this forum that should be the focus as it might be a good chance to itch some senses onto their consciousness.

"That is, to the extent that American leaders take the threats seriously, they will have a very strong incentive to launch a first-strike in the event of conflict over Taiwan."

Or they could decide to stay out of the conflict. Nothing in the taiwan relation act says the US must defend Taiwan at the risk of starting a nuclear war with China.

The Washington Post is an independent source of news and a forum for its readers. Sure you can enjoy your freedom of speech and send whatever you want to the Post, and everyone respects your right, at least in the US. Of course, I understand your difficulty that you are only allowed to publish this kind of propaganda against democracy and the self-determination of an independent country if you wish to live in China, but you need not publish it and help the Chinese government to belittle the value of liberty and democracy. I lament the virtue of the Post that is lost in the rise of another irresponsible player of world politics, and I wish one day the Post will find the way back to its past quality and let people express their own views instead of propaganda.

"The US must realize that any armed intervention on Taiwan’s behalf has the potential to quickly spiral into a nuclear conflagration."

American policy-makers are well aware of this potential; indeed, a sabre-rattling Chinese general made very public threats to that effect not long ago. The salient fact about a nuclear exchange between China and the US, however, is that the US enjoys a state of nuclear primacy with respect to China, even without an operational missile shield. China's intercontinental nuclear capabilities are insufficient to target even 10% of America's ICBM silos, let alone American nuclear subs and strategic bomber units. On the other hand, America has sufficiently many weapons, and sufficiently stealthy delivery systems, to count on eliminating China's intercontinental nuclear weapons in a first strike. Chinese policy-makers know this, and so would never actually launch a nuclear attack on the US, since the US counterattack would devestate China. While such threats may make great rhetorical devices for showing Chinese resolve on the Taiwan issue, they carry very serious risks. That is, to the extent that American leaders take the threats seriously, they will have a very strong incentive to launch a first-strike in the event of conflict over Taiwan.

To “Hypocrisy Rules”: Ha! Exactly what I’d expected from you. You slipped fast when you have no facts to counter. Run and hide all you like. You’re just cheating yourself. What a pity!

To Brian,
It’s not that China underestimates the US determination to defend Taiwan, to the contrary I think it's the US that underestimates the Chinese determination to retake Taiwan. To China, Taiwan is of existential importance. If Taiwan is allowed to declare independence with impunity, because it thinks it has protection from the US, then what's to prevent Mongolia or Tibet or some other region to do the same? The US must realize that any armed intervention on Taiwan’s behalf has the potential to quickly spiral into a nuclear conflagration – probably why GW is busy wasting my tax dollars and building his fantasy BMD. Of course we all know that thing has a slightly better chance of shooting down an incoming Ballistic missile than my little cousin's bb gun. But I digress… I do like your idea of declaring Taiwan part of mainland – and with agreement that there would be no unification talks until there's some semblance of democracy on mainland. Unfortunately, I doubt you'll get any Taiwanese to sign up for it - which leaves us in the predicament we are in now. Call me a pessimist, but in the end, I think everything will have to be settled on the battle field.

To hypocrite,
Personally I have never seen the fabled “little red book”. But if you insist that my description of you matches what's in the little "red book", I'll take your word for it – sounds like you are an expert on it. FYI, I don't need to scan any western dictionary; I'm a wordsmith – if you know what that means. In any case, I see no need to engage in a verbal jousting with a rustic half wit like yourself – because everything I say is beyond the grasp of your pea-sized brain.

ANNIE WANG is a banana.

Can’t believe after two days, the trickling of opinion has continued.
I guess it shows the torrid of the topic.

I