this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2025
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I understand the historical significance since the nationalists retreated to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War.

Back then, and for perhaps the middle part of the 20th century, there was a threat of a government in exile claiming mainland China. Historically, then, there was your impetus for invasion.

However, China has since grown significantly, and Taiwan no longer claims to be the government of mainland China, so that reason goes away.

Another reason people give: control the supply of chips. Yet, wouldn’t the Fabs, given their sensitive nature, be likely to be significantly destroyed in the process of an invasion?

Even still, China now has its own academia and engineering, and is larger than Taiwan. Hence, even without the corporate espionage mainland China is known for, wouldn’t investing in their burgeoning semiconductor industry make more sense, rather than spending that money on war?

People mention that taking Taiwan would be a breakout from the “containment” imposed by the ring of U.S. allies in the region.

Yet while taking Taiwan would mean access to deep-water ports, it’s not as though Taiwan would ever pose a threat to Chinese power projection—their stance is wholly defensive. If China decided to pull an “America” and send a carrier to the Middle East or something, no one would stop them and risk a war.

So what is it then? Is it just for national pride and glory? Is it to create a legacy for their leadership? The gamble just doesn’t really seem worth it.

Anyway, appreciate your opinions thanks!

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[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 35 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The PLA has never stepped foot on the island of Taiwan, correct.

But Qing Dynasty has ruled Taiwan, and now the Republic of China is currently on Taiwan

[–] kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

But the PRC is not a direct continuation of the Qing.

The USA can't lay claim to Great Britain just because they used to part of the same country before the revolution.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Taiwan belonged to Qing Dynasty, followed by Japanese Imperial Rule, then they handed it to Republic of China in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allies. Republic of China is the Direct Successor to Qing Dynasty (unless you count the Japanese occupation). Then immediately after WW2 ended, the KMT (who runs the Republic of China) and the CCP had a civil war. The KMT-led ROC was losing so they retreated to Taiwan, where they are currenly located. We call it "Taiwan", but its technically (according to the constitution of the Government in Taiwan) still called the "Republic of China", and Taiwan is known as the "Free Area of the Republic of China", with mainland China technically a communist rebellion. There was never any peace treaties or armistance agreement. The civil war never legally ended or even paused, only de facto paused.

Then after the ROC retreated to Taiwan, the CCP proclaimed the People's Republic of China. ROC currently exists as a rump state.

So PRC could claim to be the successor to the ROC after an internal struggle.

The difference between the US-Britain sitation is that: (1) The US declared indepence right from the start, and (2) The US and Britain already recognized each other like over 200 years ago. PRC and ROC still have yet to recognize each other's legitimanct, and as far as I know, ROC still haven't published a declaration of independence, so they are implicitly still agreeing to the fact that they are both engaged in a civil for succession as the legitimate government of "China", not for secesion as an independent state.

Basically there are 3 factions. The PRC who views itself as the sole legitimate government of all of China, the ROC who also views itself as the sole legitimate government of China. And the Taiwanese Independence movement supporters, who doesn't want anything to do with either ROC or PRC.

So if Republic of China want to become Republic of Taiwan, they probably should publish the declaration of independence, otherwise, its still a civil war, an internal struggle for succession to the banner of "China".

Don't misunderstand, I am not pro-CCP, I'm on the side of Democracy whether its Republic of Taiwan or a unified Democratic China under Republic of China, but I hope there will be a democratic reunification instead of the situtation now with the CCP in control of over a billion lives.

[–] kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 11 hours ago

"if Republic of China want to become Republic of Taiwan, they probably should publish the declaration of independence"

They don't have that choice. While independence is quite popular in Taiwan, the PRC has made it very clear that they see any movement toward Taiwanese independence as cause for war. Going so far as to fire literal warning shots over the island in 2022 and 1996.