Chinese students kicked out of Harvard's model UN after flipping out when Taiwan was called a countr

Nice example set by the teacher who walked out as well. Imagine the outrage, though, if Puerto Rico wanted to be fully independent. Most Americans would be so mad and be like, "Huh? They are part of the US?" Exactly.

 

I've spoken to a Chinese historian recently as well as met a couple of politicians and I was stupid enough to ask that question about Taiwan. They still consider it part of China and take offense when I called it a country.

 

I blame Lin.

 

Ridiculous.

DD

 

I've witnessed something similiar on a lesser scale. For some reason the memory has stuck. A chinese student nearly flipped out when Taiwan was passingly mentioned as a country, "No!, no!, no! Taiwan is part of China!", the poor girl got teary eyed too. All this from someone trying to make small talk.

 

Yeah man, I remember the terrible civil war we had to fight to prevent Puerto Rico from seceding.


So painful

 

Most Americans probably don't realize Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States.

 

Puerto Rico is like a commonwealth of the US?

 

The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation.

The United Nations does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation.

 

Not exactly. One of the political parties would support the wishes of Puerto Rico and the other would demand that they continue to pledge allegiance to the American flag. (I'm not even sure if they do that.) And John McCain would support bombing and invading them.

 

Does it make me un-American if I recognize Taiwan?

 

The US held a referendum during presidential elections and Puerto Rico actually voted to become a US state. I don't think the US would care if they wanted independence either though. And I don't think it's a political debate either, both sides think they should get to make that decision.

 

Taiwan isn't in the UN anyway

 

Even though they don't recognize them as a country a Taiwanese citizen doesn't need a visa to come to US.

That tells you all you need to know.

 

In before D&D.

I'm agnostic on the issue of Taiwan going independent but Justtyank is right that is current status and the Model UN should probably go along with the arrangement of the real UN. As for the Chinese students and teachers flipping out a lot of that might be show as the PRC might not like it if one of their staff didn't at stand up for the party line and the students might've gone along with it. At the same time though nationalism has been getting more rampant in the PRC. (Just look up threads about Tibet and Japan on the D&D).

Also keep in mind too there are some pretty nationalistic Taiwanese too and there might be some angry Taiwanese students if the Model UN listed Taiwan as part of the PRC. Probably the best compromise is just list them like they do in the Olympics as "Chinese Taipei" something that is vague enough that both sides can take something from it.

On a personal note on a person to person level there doesn't seem like much animosity. I speak Mandarin with a bit of Taiwanese accent and in China many have thought I was Taiwanese. I've never encountered any problems, other than being occasionally being overcharged for stuff. Now with direct flights from between the PRC and Taiwan and the vast amount of trade I think eventually there will be a reunification.

On a slight tangent I was also just thinking of how many people might've flipped out if they listed Palestine as a country.

 

I think the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, should withdraw his daughter (who is currently enrolled at Harvard) in protest.

I need a KingCheetah "not likely" here.

 

On a related note I just recognized that Taiwan is an actual place due to this thread. Home to Rockets legend Jeremy Lin according to Wikipedia.

 

LOFs.

 

Free Tibet