Dire Strait - Taiwan

March 2005
The President of Taiwan's stubborn push for independence has made him China's Public Enemy Number One. But how likely are these tensions to escalate into a military conflict?


"The world cannot sit by idly to see an undemocratic China remove the freedom, democracy and rights of Taiwan's citizens," laments President Chen Shui-Bian. But despite his best efforts, Taiwan's international support is dwindling. Only 25 countries still have diplomatic ties with it. Everyone else recognises mainland China. And since Chen came to power, China has stepped up its rhetoric, making it clear it will attack if it feels Taiwan is moving towards a formal declaration of independence. "As everyone knows, Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory," states one Chinese commander. "The task of our military is to defend the motherland and to ensure its territorial integrity." President Chen's problems are further compounded by the deep political divides in Taiwan. Only half the country considers him their legitimate leader. The others believe he is a crook who staged a mysterious shooting the day before the elections, when he was trailing badly, to boost his support. And much as the Taiwanese tend to see themselves as a sovereign country, few want to go to war over it. After all, as one woman says, "Mainland China is so big and we are so small."

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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[bigblondman1]

the reason the r.o.c. is considered a gov-in-exile is by international law they retreated from the mainland and at the time did not have complete sovreignty of taiwan only occupation from the japanese. but one can make the argument to the reverse that the r.o.c. signed a treaty in 1952, 7 hours before the treaty of san fran went into affect. the japanese reaffirmed surrendering there claims of taiwan to the r.o.c. but the treaty of san fran still give the u.s. legal status on taiwan

[bigblondman1]

@vicious321 i never said that the kmt should be out of taiwan. actually taiwan is what is left of the r.o.c. so its been independent since 1949 when the r.o.c. retreated to taiwan. im on your side. the commies imposed themselves on the mainland. there elections are a farce and a formality. i think the economic bubble on china will burst and the ccp ill go the way of the ussr. then free elections can be held and i think the kmt would prevail on the mainland in bloodless democratic takeover.

[vicious321]

@gfdm2233 台灣人是中國人～只是不是中華人民共和國人～

[vicious321]

@gfdm2233 如果你利用中華民國憲法來選上總統～又推翻自己國家中華民國～你­幹的事就好比當年的共產黨～

[vicious321]

@bigblondman1 Actually I have to correct u on one thing, KMT is not an exile government, it is in a rump state status, Taiwan returned to ROC in 1945 and KMT and its government ROC did not retreat to Taiwan until 1949. So Taiwan was lardy part of the Republic of China. and btw, Taiwanese are Chinese in origin. If u try to chase KMT and its regime out of Taiwan by merely electing a pro-independence president. U would be doing the same thing Communist did to ROC in mainland China.

[vicious321]

@GOTCOL Actually I have to correct u on one thing, KMT is not an exile government, it is in a rump state status, Taiwan returned to ROC in 1945 and KMT and its government ROC did not retreat to Taiwan until 1949. So Taiwan was lardy part of the Republic of China. and btw, Taiwanese are Chinese in origin. If u try to chase KMT and its regime out of Taiwan by merely electing a pro-independence president. U would be doing the same thing Communist did to ROC in mainland China.

[vicious321]

Taiwan's independence is a unrealistic dream cuz Taiwan ROC is alrdy an independent country, it is just in a rump state status. We can only wait until Chinese became democratic. But seems like Chinese like to be rule by Communist. So just leave us alone plz.

[vicious321]

Taiwan's independence is a unrealistic dream. We can only wait until Chinese became democratic. But seems like Chinese like to be rule by Communist. So just leave us alone plz.