Taiwan

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The Republic of China, originally based in mainland China, now governs the island of Taiwan, which constitutes more than 99% of its territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands, following its loss of the mainland China territory in 1949 in the Chinese Civil War. This remaining area is also constitutionally called the "Free area of the Republic of China" which is not ruled by the Communist Party of China in Beijing. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the west (mainland China), Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taiwan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Taipei is the seat of the central government, and together with the surrounding cities of New Taipei and Keelung forms the largest metropolitan area on the island.

It is hard to think of a state less deserving of pariah status than Taiwan: a country that evolved from dictatorship to become a splendid example of liberal democracy in a region sorely in need of such an example. ~ Jay Nordlinger

Quotes

• Taiwan is a good global citizen.
  • Chen Chien-jen, as quoted in "Taiwan: Pariah and Poster Child" (18 May 2020), by Jay Nordlinger, National Review

• I made a mistake. I'm so, so sorry for my mistake. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. You have to understand I love and respect China and Chinese people. I'm sorry.
  • John Cena, in apology on Weibo for referring to Taiwan as a "country" in an interview promoting Fast & Furious 9 on TVBS.

• Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the sacred duty of all the Chinese people, including our fellow Chinese in Taiwan, to achieve the great reunification of the motherland.
  • Constitution of the People's Republic of China, 1982

• All this saber-rattling is despicable. Neither Russia nor Iran threaten the U.S. and there is no reason why the U.S. should be eager to defend Taiwan or Ukraine (and also Israel). China’s military budget is miniscule compared to the U.S. and the only real threat it represents is as a competitor on world markets, where it is already dominant in a number of key sectors. The U.S. has to get off this global dominance militarism wagon but how do we do it when both major parties embrace it?
  • Philip Giraldi quoted in In truth the U.S has become a weak and therefore dangerous country, By Martin Love, Tehran Times, December 5, 2021

• I hope the Taiwan side can preserve and safeguard the political foundation and correct orientation of the peaceful development of bilateral relations, urge that the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement be put into effect as soon as possible, and promptly allow the people and enterprises on both sides to benefit. Otherwise, even despite good preparation, the efforts will amount to nothing.
  • Gao Hucheng, as quoted in UNPO (UNREPRESENTED NATIONS AND PEOPLES ORGANIZATION), "Taiwan: China Pressures for Ratification of Controversial Trade Pact", February 25, 2016.

• Taiwan is not a vital Australian interest. We have no alliance with Taipei. There is no piece of paper sitting in Canberra which has an alliance with Taipei. We do not recognise it as a sovereign state – we’ve always seen it as a part of China... My view is Australia should not be drawn into a military engagement over Taiwan, US-sponsored or otherwise...
  • Paul Keating (former Australian prime minister), 'It would make a cat laugh’: key moments from Paul Keating’s National Press Club appearance, The Guardian (November 10, 2021)

• It is hard to think of a state less deserving of pariah status than Taiwan: a country that evolved from dictatorship to become a splendid example of liberal democracy in a region sorely in need of such an example.
  • Jay Nordlinger, "Taiwan: Pariah and Poster Child" (18 May 2020), National Review

• On Formosa, the government of the Republic of China has had the opportunity to refute by action much of the malicious gossip which so undermined the strength of its leadership on the Chinese mainland. The Formosan people are receiving a just and enlightened administration with majority representation on the organs of government, and politically, economically, and socially they appear to be advancing along sound and constructive lines.
  • Douglas MacArthur, 1951 Farewell Address to Congress

• There is only one China. Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation, and that remains our policy, our firm policy.
  • Colin Powell, Interview with CNN (27 October 2004), as quoted in "Warnings by Powell to Taiwan Provoke a Diplomatic Dispute" in The New York Times (28 October 2004).

• We want to see both sides not take unilateral action that would prejudice an eventual outcome, a reunification that all parties are seeking.
  • Colin Powell, On Chinese and Taiwanese relations, in interview with Phoenix Television of Hong Kong (27 October 2004), as quoted in "Warnings by Powell to Taiwan Provoke a Diplomatic Dispute" in The New York Times (28 October 2004).

• People in quarantine should not think they won't be fined for leaving their hotel room
  • Taiwan department of health Man fined $5000 for breaking Taiwan Covid-19 quarantine for 8 seconds December 7, 2020
• A catastrophe also separates the fragile from the resilient and the antifragile―Nassim Taleb's wonderful word to describe something that gains under stress (Remember Nietzsche: "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.") Some cities, corporations, states, and empires collapse under the force of the shock. Others survive, though weakened. But a third, Nietzschean category emerges stronger. I suspect that, despite appearances, the United States in category two, not one, while the People's Republic of China may ultimately prove to be in category one, not two, much less three. The Republic of China, Taiwan is in category three―unless Beijing annexes it.
  • Niall Ferguson, Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (2021), p. 383

• We reiterated to President Yu and President Chen that we love Taiwan, stand for Taiwan against international threats, and appreciate Taiwan’s effort to prove to the world that Chinese tradition and culture are fully compatible with democracy.
  On the other hand, we noted that no country is perfect, including our own countries in the West, and unsolved issues of human rights and freedom of religion or belief exist everywhere.
  If we noted some in Taiwan, it is precisely because we are Taiwan’s friends and care for its international image.
  • Massimo Introvigne, "Bitter Winter Goes to Taiwan: Witnessing for Freedom of Religion or Belief", Bitter Winter (17 April, 2023)

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Taiwan on Wikipedia
• The dictionary definition of Taiwan on Wiktionary
• Media related to Taiwan on Wikimedia Commons
• Works related to Portal:Taiwan on Wikisource