This cartoon would work if it wasn’t for the fact that historically, PR China is a province of Taiwan ROC, not the other way round. And if you held a referendum in Taiwan they would near-unanimously vote for independence.
One constant is beginning to apply — when dictatorships threaten uppity minorities, whether said minorities are in the Ukraine or Taiwan, Mr. Rall seems to rationalize U.S. lack of involvement. Am I wrong?
Ted is wrong about the US “officially recognizing Taiwan as part of China”. The One China Policy acknowledges China’s claim to Taiwan, but doesn’t recognize PRC sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it recognize Taiwan as an Independent state. It’s intentional ambiguity to allow diplomatic relations with Beijing, while supporting Taiwan’s desire to continue self governance. That seems like a good thing.
Reminding the PRC that any attempt to forcibly impose their rule on the Taiwanese would result in utter disaster is good diplomacy, unless you actually support a forcible takeover.
This isn’t exactly accurate. Officially, the US maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding the question of Taiwan. It isn’t as straightforward as this comic presents it, and Taiwan’s situation vis a vis mainland China is not analogous to Ohio. It’s far more complicated than that.
As Ted points out, there was a long time when most of the Western World pretended that the capital of all China was in Taipei. (“Temporarily,” as I recall, until the KMT, the legitimate government of all China, er, re-secured the mainland. In the meantime, with the mainland temporarily in the hands of, er, insurrectionists, it wouldn’t be possible to hold elections, so the KMT legislators in Taiwan would have to hold their seats until then.) Then the US flipped its stance, reversing its hypocrisy. As I recall, China (the mainland government) refused to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognized Taiwan as a country, so few did. I seem to recall that, at one time—maybe an Olympics?—Canada refused to honour the passports of athletes from “The Republic of China” (Taiwan), since these would seem to conflict those from “The Peoples’ Republic of China” (the mainland).
(I seem to recall that the KMT influx of Chinese into Taiwan overwhelmed—militarily, anyway—the Formosans, who were the native residents of Taiwan.)
Of course, “X is actually a province of our country” seems to be a fairly common meme. As I recall, Saddam Hussein told the US ambassador to Iraq that Iraq considered Kuwait a province of Iraq, and what did the Americans think about that? The ambassador said, IIRC, that the US had no interest in “internal” affairs. And, of course, that’s Putin’s line about Ukraine, too.
I seem to recall that a lefty magazine (maybe The Nation or The New Republic had a tongue-in-cheek article headlined “Why the Chinese Seventh Fleet if Guarding Manhattan Island”—you can guess the analogies in it. However, reason and consistency don’t really matter a lot in “statecraft.”
I thought (and continue to believe to a lesser extent) that China may yet take advantage of the situation in Ukraine to push its agenda in Taiwan and perhaps that was the plan all along, cooked up by Putin, Xi and a certain as yet unnamed recently former president of the good ol’ USA. Time will tell.
John Keith Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Got my daily laugh in again – Thanks Ted.
tarquinchufflebottom almost 2 years ago
This cartoon would work if it wasn’t for the fact that historically, PR China is a province of Taiwan ROC, not the other way round. And if you held a referendum in Taiwan they would near-unanimously vote for independence.
WestNYC Premium Member almost 2 years ago
We used to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation from 1949 to 1979, until money and diplomacy got in the way.
RLG Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Maybe Rall should ask the Taiwanians how they feel about the matter.
StackableContainers almost 2 years ago
I love it! Purposely and unabashedly using a logical fallacy for humor. Most political cartoonists use them and then try to pretend they aren’t.
ncorgbl almost 2 years ago
The United States of America does not officially recognize Taiwan as a province of the People’s Republic of China.
Not the Smartest Man On the Planet -- Maybe Close Premium Member almost 2 years ago
One constant is beginning to apply — when dictatorships threaten uppity minorities, whether said minorities are in the Ukraine or Taiwan, Mr. Rall seems to rationalize U.S. lack of involvement. Am I wrong?
Uncle Joe Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Ted is wrong about the US “officially recognizing Taiwan as part of China”. The One China Policy acknowledges China’s claim to Taiwan, but doesn’t recognize PRC sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it recognize Taiwan as an Independent state. It’s intentional ambiguity to allow diplomatic relations with Beijing, while supporting Taiwan’s desire to continue self governance. That seems like a good thing.
Reminding the PRC that any attempt to forcibly impose their rule on the Taiwanese would result in utter disaster is good diplomacy, unless you actually support a forcible takeover.
ChristopherBurns almost 2 years ago
Rall is the king of false equivalence.
calliarcale almost 2 years ago
This isn’t exactly accurate. Officially, the US maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding the question of Taiwan. It isn’t as straightforward as this comic presents it, and Taiwan’s situation vis a vis mainland China is not analogous to Ohio. It’s far more complicated than that.
eideard almost 2 years ago
And, then, there’s Puerto Rico, Hawaii, etc..
sedrelwesley2 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
We DID invade Texas. & New Mexico & Arizona & California & later Phillipines & Hawaii & Guam & Puerto Rico…
cherns Premium Member almost 2 years ago
As Ted points out, there was a long time when most of the Western World pretended that the capital of all China was in Taipei. (“Temporarily,” as I recall, until the KMT, the legitimate government of all China, er, re-secured the mainland. In the meantime, with the mainland temporarily in the hands of, er, insurrectionists, it wouldn’t be possible to hold elections, so the KMT legislators in Taiwan would have to hold their seats until then.) Then the US flipped its stance, reversing its hypocrisy. As I recall, China (the mainland government) refused to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognized Taiwan as a country, so few did. I seem to recall that, at one time—maybe an Olympics?—Canada refused to honour the passports of athletes from “The Republic of China” (Taiwan), since these would seem to conflict those from “The Peoples’ Republic of China” (the mainland).
(I seem to recall that the KMT influx of Chinese into Taiwan overwhelmed—militarily, anyway—the Formosans, who were the native residents of Taiwan.)
Of course, “X is actually a province of our country” seems to be a fairly common meme. As I recall, Saddam Hussein told the US ambassador to Iraq that Iraq considered Kuwait a province of Iraq, and what did the Americans think about that? The ambassador said, IIRC, that the US had no interest in “internal” affairs. And, of course, that’s Putin’s line about Ukraine, too.
cherns Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I seem to recall that a lefty magazine (maybe The Nation or The New Republic had a tongue-in-cheek article headlined “Why the Chinese Seventh Fleet if Guarding Manhattan Island”—you can guess the analogies in it. However, reason and consistency don’t really matter a lot in “statecraft.”
jader3rd almost 2 years ago
We should give up on the one China policy. It’s very detached from reality.
Raging Moderate almost 2 years ago
I thought (and continue to believe to a lesser extent) that China may yet take advantage of the situation in Ukraine to push its agenda in Taiwan and perhaps that was the plan all along, cooked up by Putin, Xi and a certain as yet unnamed recently former president of the good ol’ USA. Time will tell.
jkn1027 almost 2 years ago
Who would want to defend Ohio?
Màiri almost 2 years ago
OT
Is it more accurate to say Biden is again trying to destroy Medicare or still trying?
I’m sure the “moderate” and “centrist” Democrats (aka DINOS) approve regardless of the word used, but would never be so honest as to admit it.
donut reply almost 2 years ago
Remember when goods sent over from Taiwan were labeled “Product of Taiwan R.O.C. (Republic of China)”