[Moderator’s note: [url=What Does It Mean to Be Taiwanese? - #15 by xp_10K One can be found here[/url]]
Zeugmite, I stongly disagree with your contention that “not being Chinese” is a viable part of Taiwanese identity. Form your previous posts, you seem to have two main reasons for thingking this: Firstly, that Taiwanese culture is inextricably connected to Chinese culture. Secondly, that the diversity within China is greater than (or at least equal to) the diversity between Taiwan and China.
I actually agree with both of these points, but think that they in no way prevent a Taiwanes person from quite reasonably declaring “I am not Chinese, I am Taiwanese” (and let me make it clear that I am talking about culture here, not passports). Let’s compare:
“I am not European, I am a New Zealander”. This statement is true and I don’t think anybody would disagree with it. Yes, my New Zealand cuture is inextricably derived form and connected to European culture. The vast majority of our population is made up of immigrants from Europe and their descendants. We share an enormous amount of culture, religion, language, holidays etc. Also, the diversity inside Europe is greater than, (or at least equal to) the differences bewteen New Zealand and Europe.
But if anyone said “no, you are European” to me, they’d be laughed at.
It’s absolutely exactly the same with being Taiwanese.
Brian