this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Local Taiwanese here, the CKS statues don't mean shit to us. Just the old KMT people who still think we can still overtake the mainland.
We are also not moving closer to independence. We are already independent. We have our own currency, our own democratic government who we once again voted to remain independent.
We do not need China's support for anything, if anything they need our support with our advanced medical technology and advanced chips.
I've found the term "independence" to be ambiguous when discussing Taiwan. Everyone knows Taiwan is effectively an independent state. But in practice, it is less clear where the government or people of Taiwan stand on the topic. For example, Taiwan has agreed to participate in the Olympics under an ambiguous name, Chinese Taipei. Which is purposively designed to appease notions of independence from China.
For me, it would encompass the idea of a formal declaration of the Taiwan state. Perhaps even renaming the country from RoC to Taiwan to further solidify that notion, which I think does not have popular support in Taiwan. In fact, the PRC has clearly stated that military action would occur if Taiwan "declared independence". So, instead of "declaring independence", I hear that Taiwan instead says "well, we don't have to declare independence, because we already are. So, we aren't going to declare it." Which to me sounds like: "We would officially and unambiguously declare independence, but we are afraid of what the PRC would do if we did. So, instead we are going to act like we don't have to do it because we already are independent.. even though we won't declare it". I don't know.. I'm probably just confused.
The Olympics is just China's way of swinging their power around and forcing the association to call us that. We rather participate than not.
As for formal declaration, why go through the trouble? Even China immigration thinks we are a different country. You know, Taiwanese are required to get a Visa to visit the mainland? Why if they think we are part of China?
We have basically been independent for 75 years now. It's like a couple that have been together for years and bought a house together. Why have a wedding anymore. Too much hassle.
Hong kong and Macau both requre Visa's to enter and vise versa, its part of the one china 2 systems moddle that they have extended to Tiwan.
They just use their Mainland Travel Permit. Completely different from what we need to do to go into China.
A little googling seems to show that China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner, and Taiwan is China’s fourth largest. China is no slouch in medical technology: it is filing twice as many patents as Taiwan. And it is quickly catching up in advanced semiconductors, much to the surprise of the US and its efforts to hamstring it. The Economist: China is quietly reducing its reliance on foreign chip technology
Trade Relationships: While it's true that China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner and Taiwan is a significant partner for China, this relationship doesn't necessarily imply dependency or vulnerability for Taiwan. Taiwan specializes in high-value components like semiconductors, which are crucial for various global industries, thereby diversifying its economic engagements beyond China. Taiwan's strategic economic engagements with other major economies, including the U.S., Japan, and members of the EU, reduce its economic reliance on China.
Medical Technology and Patent Filings: China filing twice as many patents as Taiwan may indicate volume but doesn't inherently speak to the quality or global impact of these innovations. Taiwan has a well-established reputation in precision healthcare technologies and medical devices, often leading in specialized sectors that are competitive on a global scale. Moreover, the raw number of patents doesn’t directly translate to technological leadership.
Advancements in Semiconductors: Although China is making significant strides in semiconductor technology, Taiwan's leadership in this area is built on decades of development and deep integration into global supply chains. The technological gap, especially in advanced semiconductor manufacturing (like 5nm and 3nm technologies), is substantial and not easily bridged. U.S. efforts to limit China's access to cutting-edge technology further compound these challenges for China. Taiwan's Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains the world's most advanced chipmaker, underscoring its strategic value.
China’s Self-Reliance in Chip Technology: While China is working towards self-reliance in semiconductor technology, this is a long-term goal that faces multiple challenges, including sanctions and technological complexities. The Economist article points to a gradual reduction in reliance, but it does not imply that China has achieved parity with global leaders or can do without imports in the near term. The quality and performance of semiconductors are critical, and current global leaders like Taiwan and South Korea hold significant competitive advantages.