tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post2227874164670747487..comments2024-01-23T10:52:07.009+00:00Comments on Hunting Monsters: Phantom Countries: Taiwanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09958839106380353855noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post-82841436408218273302008-05-25T16:32:00.000+01:002008-05-25T16:32:00.000+01:00One thing with Taiwan is that it is an economic po...One thing with Taiwan is that it is an economic powerhouse, and might still do more trade with many countries than the PRC does, so they could still be in position to buy recognition from many fine countries. It is probably worth their while having at least some recognition, even if it is only from lolcountries.ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09958839106380353855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post-7491635362542743972008-05-15T19:52:00.000+01:002008-05-15T19:52:00.000+01:00It looks like things continue to go poorly for Tai...It looks like things continue to go poorly for Taiwan on the international recognition front. According to the Economist its foreign minister and vice premier both resigned over the loss of $30m in a bungled attempt to gain diplomatic recognition from Papua New Guinea. <BR/>In a way one wonders why they bother with this sort of chequebook diplomacy.It must be obvious at this stage that any country that they would actually gain from having diplomatic relations with will not recognise them for fear of pissing China off. It's probably to do with national pride but that hardly comes from being political pals with the likes of Tuvalu and São Tomé and Príncipe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09685483291277147094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post-66520781088690791362008-05-06T19:22:00.000+01:002008-05-06T19:22:00.000+01:00Cursory investigation suggests you are correct wit...Cursory investigation suggests you are correct with your comments on Taiwan in the 17th century, when it seems to have been a base for Ming Jacobites rather than the Ming themselves. Your claim that Taiwan was still owned by Japan in 1951 is somewhat outlandish, as that would mean that Japan still ran it after their forces there surrendered to the KMT and after Chiang Kai-Shek retreated there following his defeat in the civil war. <BR/><BR/>The thing that is fascinating about Taiwan is that it is in almost all essential characteristics an independent country, yet it is not acknowledged as such <I>de jure</I> by the international community, while even its own political elite are careful to never declare the island's independence.ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09958839106380353855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post-55520037084561045092008-05-06T13:10:00.000+01:002008-05-06T13:10:00.000+01:00Erm...Taiwan doesn't have an anomalous relationshi...Erm...<BR/><BR/>Taiwan doesn't have an anomalous relationship with "the rest" of China because it isn't part of China. The Ming did not hang out here when defeated -- that was the Chengs who retreated here on a "restore the Ming" ideology but went ahead and set up a state on the island, much like the Chiangs 4 centuries later. Taiwan was not "back under Chinese control" after WWII because Japan still owned it until 1951, after which its sovereignty was given up under the terms of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. That sovereignty was not awarded to any nation and today the US position, along with that of several other nations, is that Taiwan's status is undetermined.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21661313.post-55553490067016332382008-04-29T12:08:00.000+01:002008-04-29T12:08:00.000+01:00Ah, so that's the Taiwanese flag. Someone on our r...Ah, so that's the Taiwanese flag. Someone on our road has the same flag up in their window.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com