Hey if Hamas wants to recognize Taiwan. That’d be interesting.
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At one time my US passport said my country of birth was CHINA and when I went back to Taiwan the immigration guy said “you were born in China?”
At that time there were no Chinese visitors to Taiwan or flights from China to Taiwan
So you can imagine it was a bit of a stir
I said “Yes the Republic of China “
Now once again my US passport says I was born in Taiwan
That would make Taiwan more ostracized in the international community just as if North Korea were to recognize Taiwan but yes Interesting yes
Exactly the same happened to my wife in Italy. While we were obviously upset - it turned out the policeman simple selected China from the list - as the passport says Republic of China. It was nothing political.
It took some explaining - but it was when I pointed out that the passport was green that their brain starting receiving the information that she may - perhaps - not be Chinese, but from the Republic of China.
We complained and received a new residency card a few months later. They weren’t happy, it was August! Italians don’t work in August 
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Well Taiwanese are largely ethnically Chinese just like most Singaporeans are ethnically Chinese. So in that context I am largely Chinese as well (although a bit less than most Taiwanese, being half white) but I too like to say I am Taiwanese rather than Chinese. Just like most Singaporeans I understand like to specify that they are Singaporeans even if they are ethnically Chinese, like Malaysians who are ethnically Chinese also like to say they are Malaysians rather than Chinese.
So politically being addressed as Chinese is off putting to many simply because it implied one is from China China. Which actually simply being called Chinese should not be off putting in the ethnic sense even if one is not from CHINA CHINA.
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It happens all the time. If you tell people you are from Ireland they translate that into England. Which I find kind of funny and Ironic that Taiwanese people would do that routinely. With cab drivers it’s often instant like: Where are you from? Ireland. Ah right England.
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Plenty of wars fought for independence. Taiwan never fought for independence, they fought to rule China and lost.
They don’t want to fight a war, I respect that. Then they should be accepting of the position this puts them in.
They call themselves 華人 which also translates to Chinese (Yes i know this is what China say but it’s also what Taiwan says.)
It is only relatively recent that Taiwan stopped calling themselves Chinese too. But the paperwork still stands that they are ‘Chinese’. Is China Airlines not the national carrier?
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There are two Congoes, one of them always be Zaire.
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This is why I think Taiwan should ask them to put (Taiwan) in brackets next to China.
This would be a fair and reasonable response and is what Taiwan does in Taiwan.
It is unreasonable for Taiwan to expect other countries to call it one name while it calls itself another.
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Such is the status quo. I would love to see a Republic of Taiwan but as it stands that does not exist. It is also not for other countries to decide, it’s for Taiwan to decide.
Peace is an honourable choice but in this situation it has a rather shit side effect.
And I would choose to remain the Republic of China (Taiwan) every day if the other choice meant war.
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That’s funny seeing there is a path to citizenship. So you support something that already exists.
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It is well past time for Taiwan to stop formally calling itself Republic of China.
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At sports events they’re calked Chinese Taipei which is even worse.
It confuses foreigners that the passport is The Republic of China but then expect all foreigners to call them Taiwanese. I agree with the OP they need to look inwards not outwards. They’ve had long enough to sort the name out. Either sort it out with the consequences or don’t sort it out with the consequences.
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How quickly can a national identity change? It’s also relatively recently that China now refers to the PRC.
Like I’ve said. CKS put us in a losing position when many of us did not share his vision or was even alive then. Particularly on the issue of independence, the island has always been independent of the PRC that is now referred to as China.
While you may argue we never fought for independence, I have always viewed as we have fought to defend and maintain our independence from the PRC. We have also shared our desire to build formal relations and cooperated as a reliable partner on every global level.
If the issue is just about being called China. There have been other cases where governments were able to accept 2 countries that claim to be a certain name. It is the continued formal rejection of the obvious truth that Taiwan or the ROC exists as a sovereign state when it is treated as such in all respects besides by name. All because they made an error in judgment to the PRC being a better partner.
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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
I’m not questioning Taiwan’s independence. I just don’t agree that it is fair for Taiwan to demand countries to call it one thing while it calls itself another.
I think peace is paramount.
That is what most developed countries want. If the Chinese army does step foot on Taiwan then it should declare independence the same day and I’m sure countries will start recognising a Republic of Taiwan. However, you are right. If Taiwan changes its name before that then it would have little support. Crap position to be in. But all individuals, countries, organisations should accept the choices they make. Yes, Taiwan may have a gun to its head. But so have many countries who fought for independence and recognition or even just a better life.
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No way! That’s wild. I had no idea.
Just kidding. We all know that. That one is imposed by external forces, though. ROC is self-imposed.
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Yup Taiwan should change its constitution to Republic of Taiwan. If war comes so be it? PRC China will never let ROT join the UN though.
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Decided to delete as off topic
Actually that one was formulated by the ROC:
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