Taiwan should be unified with the "Motherland" of China Debate
Moderator: Kayla Sturdevant

Untitled Slide

Pecadores Islands
Quemoy (Kinmen)
Matsu Islands

Taiwan is called "The Republic of China"
It's an independent state with its own military and successful economy and democratic political system. But both Taiwan and Communist China disagree as to its status, Communist China regarding it as a "renegade province"

Who are the Taiwanese?

• 87.66-92.66 percent Taiwanese
• 10-15 percent Mainlanders
• 2.34 percent Aborigines
• Main landers: descendants consider themselves Taiwanese and have little identification with the Mainland
• How do the Taiwanese feel?

Background

• Taiwan was a part of Japan for fifty years since the Sino-Japanese War of the late 19th century
• 1945: Japan(including Taiwan) was defeated in WWII

Background Continued

• 1949: Nationalist government moved to Taiwan since the communists were taking over Beijing. Intended to take back mainland. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese weren't happy with their new masters
• 1951: Treaty of San Francisco, Japan gave up rights to Taiwan, but no one wanted to take them. peace treaty for WWII in Asia. Republic of China (in Taiwan) represented China at the Peace Talk

Background Continued

• 1952: Still no claim of Taiwan. Japan and Republic of China sign Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty
• 1979: Taiwan Relations Act
• early 1980s: democratic movement grows
• 1986: Democratic Progressive Party forms
• 1990s: constituion amended allowed election of president

Background Continued

• 1992: "One China" Consensus. China has its own interpretation

President Ma of the Nationalists tried to make strong economic ties with the Mainland

1 country, 2 systems: idea of own governmenT

• Hong Kong tried this when China held Hong Kong since 1997, but is supposed to allow them freedom for 50 years
• However, they have meddled in the elections
• there have been So many demonstrations against the Communist Beijing government in Hong Kong . Taiwan is wary to get caught in that trap

Current Election

• Democratic progressive party candidate Tsai Ying Wen as new president
• China wants to remind Taiwan of their "One China" status
• Trade risk

Tsai Ying Wen
Because of her Taiwan identity, she's being bullied

People's Opinion

• protests over name
• 2007 Olympics "Chinese Taipei"
• demonstrations against trade
• Sunflower Movement: against cheap labor being allowed into Taiwan from Mainland China. Students and workers protested that Chinese immigrants from the Mainland would flood Taiwan causing havoc

Economics

• Japan and US trade with Taiwan. Both are opposed to Mainland China invading Taiwan
• Chinese trade is important to Taiwan
• Huge capitalist economy

Thank you