Taiwan exists within an unusual category of territories that have all the markings of a nation-state without the recognition as such. How did it get here?
Those are lovely sentiments, for whatever percentage of Taiwan's 23 million people want independence. Unfortunately, we live in a world. That world includes the PRC and USA, and the US government wants to continue using Taiwan as a military outpost for any future war on China. So lovely sentiments have to look for expression in the world in which we live. De jure independence with close and friendly ties with China and no foreign military alliances - and probably some Chinese bases - that's potentially feasible. Though it may be difficult given public opinion in the PRC. But leaving out the context makes getting in bed with the Blob - they love Taiwan "independence", i.e., subservience to the US empire - seem like just the morally correct thing to do.
my sentiments as well, I believe James is earnest in his desire for an independent and internationally recognized Taiwan (and not a deep state connection, tempting as that is for a leftist like me to believe) but as you said, we live in our world. it’s the same world where a “percentage” of PR and Hawaii want to secede from the US but is it as tenable either? assuming the Chinese threat is overblown (and I believe it is, there’s too much to be lost and China has a bigger projects in BRI and handling its demographic & COVID issues) to ever be the villain Washington insists it is, the status quo is relatively the best place for Taiwan to be right now.
Those are lovely sentiments, for whatever percentage of Taiwan's 23 million people want independence. Unfortunately, we live in a world. That world includes the PRC and USA, and the US government wants to continue using Taiwan as a military outpost for any future war on China. So lovely sentiments have to look for expression in the world in which we live. De jure independence with close and friendly ties with China and no foreign military alliances - and probably some Chinese bases - that's potentially feasible. Though it may be difficult given public opinion in the PRC. But leaving out the context makes getting in bed with the Blob - they love Taiwan "independence", i.e., subservience to the US empire - seem like just the morally correct thing to do.
my sentiments as well, I believe James is earnest in his desire for an independent and internationally recognized Taiwan (and not a deep state connection, tempting as that is for a leftist like me to believe) but as you said, we live in our world. it’s the same world where a “percentage” of PR and Hawaii want to secede from the US but is it as tenable either? assuming the Chinese threat is overblown (and I believe it is, there’s too much to be lost and China has a bigger projects in BRI and handling its demographic & COVID issues) to ever be the villain Washington insists it is, the status quo is relatively the best place for Taiwan to be right now.