8
votes
China's Xi seeks talks to unify Taiwan with mainland
From Bloomberg: "China's Xi Seeks Talks to Unify Taiwan With Mainland"
From South China Morning Post: "Chinese President Xi Jinping urges Taiwan to follow Hong Kong model for unification"
Judging by the reactions from the people of Hong Kong in the English-speaking press over the years, this is not something I'd expect Taiwanese citizens would want.
Essentially, it's an offer to be absorbed into China and retain nothing of what's unique or politically empowering in your country today. At least right now, that's what it looks like Hong Kong will be left with after the special period ends: nothing beyond the rest of China, no autonomy, no special treatment, no extra agency or democracy.
No wonder many people from Hong Kong feel betrayed by Great Britain.
Why are they seeking talks instead of just declaring it part of the mainland?
Declaring Taiwan to be part of mainland China wouldn't achieve anything on its own. Taiwan would reject that declaration, and any countries that currently have diplomatic ties with Taiwan would retain those ties. Nothing would change.
China would have to do something to back up their declaration. And I think even the Chinese government knows that it wouldn't get away with a military take-over of Taiwan. Far better to have the take-over appear to be voluntary and negotiated than involuntary and enforced.
It'll keep on with the same salami tactics it's using the South China Sea - each individual action isn't quite bad enough to rouse the world's ire but, gradually, each new slice adds up to a take-over.
I'd like to see Winnie try, honestly.
I'm waiting for a bunch of white teen communists to come in and explain this is good and totally not imperialism