I’m not even sure Taiwan makes that claim, but if they do then I’m fine with that. I had heard they view themselves as the legitimate government of a (unified) China. But I suppose I do think of Taiwan as a separate country.
What I mean is, China is a country not a monolithic entity or individual. There’s a tendency for people to refer to Israel and China as if they were somehow embodied and conscious. As opposed to vast areas of land occupied by countless individuals.
It seems like the first step in dehumanising a population, and it makes me uneasy.
I’m not even sure Taiwan makes that claim, but if they do then I’m fine with that.
They do. The official government line currently is that they have no need to formally declare independence (which might trigger a Chinese invasion) because they already are an independent country by most meaningful measures (which is true of course)
I had heard they view themselves as the legitimate government of a (unified) China.
That used to be the official position decades ago. But apart from a few old nationalistic farts maybe, nobody on Taiwan really holds that position anymore.
That was a reaction to you saying China isn’t a country, or at least implying it. Actually it was more about explaining my earlier comment, which was a reply to somebody else.
Nah, Taiwan is a country.
I’m not even sure Taiwan makes that claim, but if they do then I’m fine with that. I had heard they view themselves as the legitimate government of a (unified) China. But I suppose I do think of Taiwan as a separate country.
What I mean is, China is a country not a monolithic entity or individual. There’s a tendency for people to refer to Israel and China as if they were somehow embodied and conscious. As opposed to vast areas of land occupied by countless individuals.
It seems like the first step in dehumanising a population, and it makes me uneasy.
They do. The official government line currently is that they have no need to formally declare independence (which might trigger a Chinese invasion) because they already are an independent country by most meaningful measures (which is true of course)
That used to be the official position decades ago. But apart from a few old nationalistic farts maybe, nobody on Taiwan really holds that position anymore.
Thanks for clarifying; that’s definitely a more coherent position.
Do you see how your reaction to me saying “taiwan is a country” is to brainlessly say I’m dehumanizing a population?
Is that a sane reaction?
That was a reaction to you saying China isn’t a country, or at least implying it. Actually it was more about explaining my earlier comment, which was a reply to somebody else.