I know, there are plenty of China/Taiwan threads out there in existence... so I'm not here to start another generic discussion of the evils of reunification or independence, nor to do a comparative analysis of the economic status of either (although we might go off in that direction again... since it always does). I am starting this thread for one reason alone: to dispel the myth, closely held by many who are unfamiliar with the situation, that the Taiwanese want independence. That's a load of crap. I speak that not with political passion, just with a passion for the *facts*. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council measures and records the results of various opinion surveys conducted on the island every year. You can find'em here at: http://www.mac.gov.tw The "Taiwanese" do not want independence. And this isn't simply speaking of independence as a political strategy in the now (only those in Taiwan that are suicidal, or lobbying for Taiwan to become the US's 51st state, advocate immediate independence). The surveys tracked by the MAC have as an option "status quo now, independence later". In other words, it's an accurate measure of underlying DESIRE for independence. Certainly, some Taiwanese do. And it's even a fact to say that there are *more* Taiwanese that desire independence than there are Taiwanese that desire unification. But take a look at the numbers. Either party represents an extreme view within the overall population, each representing less than 20% of the population. So, consider this your myth buster of the day. The Taiwanese, as a people, do not desire independence. Indeed, it's accurate to say that 80% of the population of Taiwan (a landslide and representative of "popular opinion" by any reasonable definition) do NOT DESIRE independence.
of course the people want the Status Quo declaring Independence will cause the s*** to hit the fan they are already independant in all but name, why would they feel the need to buck that?
You omitted the real Taiwanese. The indigenous people of Taiwan want independence. They want all Chinese/Taiwanese off their island. If not, at least give them real job opportunities or casino licenses.
AHA! Another chance for myth-buster to come to the rescue: As I said above, the surveys gave, as an optional answer: "status quo now, independence later." For anyone that *desired* independence but feared immediate mainland retaliation, then wouldn't that be the obvious answer? The image posted above isn't detailed enough to break-down the "pro-independence" statistic, but it *is* included within that figure. Here's the more accurate full graph: And yes, I do agree with SamFisher that "they don't want unification" either. But that's not exactly a myth held by a lot of people, now is it? Thus, myth-buster felt no need to weigh in on that issue.
Are you hearing you? Whenever some vote doesn't go the way the you wanted it to go (not your vote anyway), you think it is rigged. When the vote does suit your appetite, you say it is the wonder of democracy (Not that I support communism). So this vote is no good, but the vote that elected the Taiwan "president" is a good one.
Let me break down the impression that Taiwanese people have about this poll (and a VERY GOOD ONE it is!) Independence now = War now Unification now = Dictator now Status quo now, Independence later = Peace now, War later Status quo now, Unificiation later = Democracy now, Dictatorship later Status quo indefinitely = Peace and Democracy forever Don't know/Don't Care = I've got a house in Houston and a green card
