It's called a hypothetical. If China did claim Australia, would you be in support by your own logic because you could leech off their booming economy? And if not, why would Taiwanese people be different?
If you really want an answer, then I say No: 1. Australians don't share a heritage as Taiwan and China do; 2. It would be impossible to assimilate our cultures; 3. And most importantly, Australia is not the last bastion of a 60 year old civil war that is begging to be resolved like Taiwan is. That's why Australia would never be "claimed" by China.
So in other words, there are reasons besides economics for a people not to want to be under Chinese rule.
A lot of china is still third world. Taiwan is pretty much a 1st world country. They have a better standard of living in taiwan. Don't see why they want to be part of china.
you could argue that Taiwan should become the 51st US state, but their GDP per capita is only $20,000/yr...compared to $50,000/yr for the US. So the US probably wouldn't accept them due to poverty. However, China's GDP per capita is only $6,000 per year, and India a measly $1,000 per year.
that's not a good analogy at all wtf lol It's not something you can explain in a paragraph or a page or 100 pages. as some of yall already mentioned. 1. Taiwan was initially just a place of exile for the people that lost against the civil war against Mao and the Communists in like 1949 2. Taiwan flourished economically from that time til now while China went through years and years of political unrest, and poverty and basically just started to become a superpower in recent years. Even then Taiwan on average has way higher standard of living with less people in poverty etc etc. 3. Taiwan is a democracy while China isn't. 4. Technically other than the aboriginals, most Taiwanese are considered Han Chinese. and IMO until China has some sorta major political overhaul, this will continue to be an unsolved issue. But to answer your question, I think Taiwan people consider themselves Chinese as in people of Han Chinese Descent, but not Chinese as in citizens of People's republic of China.
I think that ship has sailed long time ago in the 50's when they had their chance. The dream is long dead. IMO the only chance the two will be reunited again is if, PROC becomes a democracy, and reach the GDP per capita of Taiwan, then maybe Taiwan would become some sorta self governed entity of China.
Given his argument, it's a perfectly relevant analogy. In his opinion, the only thing that mattered was economics. The people should want to be part of China because they could leech off them economically. Nothing you mentioned was relevant to him.
You do realize that Taiwan's economy is far more developed than China's? It will be decades before China reaches Taiwan's current level. In fact, Taiwan's HHI stats are better than Americas. Besides, even in this state of de facto independence, Taiwan is getting plenty of largesse from China's growth. China is already Taiwan's largest trading partner.
Taiwan’s GDP per capita is 5 times more than that of China. Even though China’s economy has been growing rapidly, the gap between Taiwan and China has actually remained the same. http://claudiajean.wordpress.com/a-comparison-of-taiwan-and-china/ A number of economic indicators are much better in Taiwan than in China. It wouldn't be a case of Taiwan doing the "leeching."
The mighty, free Nation of Taiwan would never rejoin China -- Taiwan has the strongest ally on the planet and tens of billions of dollars in military aid -- Australia is more likely to join the US.
My very limited knowledge of Tawain/China history, via my ANS 361 elective, is that Taiwan is old money. Think if the Rockefellers et all made Manhattan into its own country prior to WW2/Depression. I forgot most of it cuz it was an 9am MWF course but my two Taiwanese study mates came off ass snobby and condescending towards all mainlanders and Hong Kongers. otherwise cool cats.
^^ this guys....op isn't looking to discuss this. Just stir up conversation....but hey if you guys wanna talk about it just for kicks by all means carry on.
It's a pretty simple relationship to understand really. If Texas wanted to be its own country Would Washington care?