As I write this, there is yet another debate raging in a Forumosa thread about how Taiwan is not part of China. Which leads to the usual discussion about what America should have done in 1945, the San Francisco Treaty, how the ROC no longer exists, etc.
All very nice. By now, we must have had more debates like this than I’ve had hot meals. So I’m not going to start another one.
What thing I have yet to hear in any of these discussions is exactly how the fierce TI advocates on this forum hope to actually achieve independence. Now, I really don’t want to hear about what should have been done years ago, because we can’t change the past. Hindsight is always 100%.
What I want to hear is about the future - just what is your proposal? Let us assume for the purpose of this discussion that the DPP wins the next elections for both the presidency and the legislature. So now they’ve got control - this is the moment many of you have been dreaming of. What should the DPP do now that they’ve got the power? And I mean seriously - not something (like I just read on that other thread) about “put the KMT and a sinking boat back to China.” Yes, that’s cute, it’s also not going to happen, nor would it be useful.
So what should they do? Referendum on independence? Dispense with the referendum (or dishonor the result if it doesn’t go their way) and make a unilateral declaration of independence? After China gets predictably belligerent, ask to be America’s 51st state? Or ask Japan to annex Taiwan again? File a lawsuit against China in The Hague? If it comes to war, should Taiwan go for military victory, pray for US intervention, ask the United Nations for help, or surrender? What if China doesn’t invade, but simply imposes an economic blockade and the economy collapses? Compromise with China? Would they compromise by then? What kind of terms would China demand at that point?
And if it does come to war, how many of your will stay here, whatever the consequences? Would any of you serve in the Taiwanese military if they allowed it, and would you be willing to go into combat? Will you keep the family here, or send them abroad while you fight it out with the PLA. Will you stay if Taiwan loses or surrenders?
I have my own ideas on this, which I’ll go into, but would like to hear yours first.