Don't Mess With Taiwan

"Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it;
those who fail to learn history correctly -- why, they are
simply doomed."

- Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda

Taiwanese have NOTHING to be ashamed of if they surrender their sovereignty in tough economic times, said the China Post's Joe Hung a week ago, because even the never-say-die Texans of the Nineteenth Century did THAT:

Texas is an example of the economic woes compelling an independent, sovereign state to give up sovereignty. It declared independence in 1836 during a revolution against Mexico. The Republic of Texas had a very difficult 10-year life. Financing proved critical, and efforts to secure loans from foreign countries were unsuccessful. Protection against the raids from Mexico and occasional attacks by Indians required a mobile armed force, which further drained the meager coffer. As a consequence, the Texans voted for annexation by the United States; and the proposition, rejected twice by Washington was finally accepted in 1845. Texas ceased to be an independent, sovereign state in 1846 when the transfer of authority from the republic to the state of Texas took place.

Hung brings up the subject in the context of his dreams for a commonwealth with China, the bellicose nation that threatens Taiwan.  Though perhaps it escaped his notice that Texas didn't vote for annexation TO the country that threatened it militarily; it voted for annexation to a country that would PROTECT it from same. 

And so I have a counter-proposal for Hung and the editors of the China Post.  If Taiwan's economy really IS that bad (which is to say, worse than in the immediate years following World War II when the KMT managed to drive it into the ground), then perhaps Taiwan should emulate the Texas of two centuries ago by forming a commonwealth (or even a confederation) with a nearby country that will protect it from China's designs.

(Of course, using the Texas analogy, the only logical choice for that role would have to be . . . Japan.)

"The Commonwealth of Asian Democracies."  Has kind of a nice ring, doesn't it?

Comments

[Adeya Lin]

Well said, couldn't agree more...we want a commonwealth with a country that can stand up to the Chinese...If you were a Taiwanese citizen, would you want to surrender the hard earned democracy & live under the shadow of communism?

[Lee-Sean]

I'm a Taiwanese citizen, although I have spent most of my life in the US. I've also lived in Japan. Given the current situation, a commonwealth with Japan would be a 2nd choice to independence. Union with China would have to be a far third place behind that. In the list of countries of the world, Taiwan is not that small economically, or in terms of population. But nobody suggests that Iceland should be reunited with Denmark, even though there are fewer than 1 million Icelanders. Taiwan is much bigger than many sovereign states, and is more than economically viable on its own, even if it's facing some hard times. The 'miracle' of the Asian tigers and the era of double digit growth cannot be sustainable anyway.

[Nick M]

Surely all that is needed is a strong mutual defence pact between say, Taiwan, Japan and S Korea. PRC might be able to prevail against those eventually but it would be a truly pyhric victory and they're not that daft.

[Michael Turton]

Hahaha. Nice post, man. Good to see you back in form.

Michael

[The Foreigner]

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Thanks Michael. Good to be back.

[Son of Taiwan]

Great Post!