Japan surrounded by China and Russia warships on joint exercise.

[Twilight Hue]

Why Russian and Chinese warships teaming up to circle Japan is a big deal - CNN

Wonder what's next.

Australia?

 

[Revoltingest]

They're there to protect Japan from another Ameristanian attack.

 

[metis]

One expert on eastern Asian affairs this last weekend on Fareed Zakaria's GPS news program said she believes China will likely invade Taiwan within the next 6 years, but that largely depends on what the U.S. does in preparation and how much we are willing to risk war.

 

[Stevicus]

Why Russian and Chinese warships teaming up to circle Japan is a big deal - CNN

Wonder what's next.

Australia?

Maybe the Russians are spoiling for a rematch of the Battle of Tsushima.

 

[Suave]

Why Russian and Chinese warships teaming up to circle Japan is a big deal - CNN

Wonder what's next.

Australia?

I'd like military tensions between the U.S. and China to de-escalate. I'm confident this could be accomplished by a diplomatic solution resolving the ROC-PRC conflict whereby Taiwan is ceded to mainland China in 2049, this being the 100th year anniversary of the People's Republic of China's proclamation.

Mentioning Japan and Australia, I'd like there to be an agreement between the U. S., Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and other Pacific rim nations to accept Taiwanese refugees who might flee the ceding of Taiwan to mainland China.

Taiwan is not a Country (even if you wish really hard)

 

[Stevicus]

I'd like military tensions between the U.S. and China to de-escalate. I'm confident this could be accomplished by a diplomatic solution resolving the ROC-PRC conflict whereby Taiwan is ceded to mainland China in 2049, this being the 100th year anniversary of the People's Republic of China's proclamation.

Mentioning Japan and Australia, I'd like there to be an agreement between the U. S., Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and other Pacific rim nations to accept Taiwanese refugees who might flee the ceding of Taiwan to mainland China.

Taiwan is not a Country (even if you wish really hard)

That was an interesting video. That guy has a good handle on the formalities of international relations, and he presents valid, well-reasoned arguments.

Taiwan is a relic of the Cold War, just as we had East Germany and West Germany, North and South Vietnam, and (still existing) North Korea and South Korea.

Fact is, we left quite a few loose ends after WW2 and during the Cold War era, and our foreign policy has always been myopic and reactive.

We got off on the wrong foot in our forays into East Asia back in the 19th century, and much of our early history with China has not been a positive one. Our one saving grace is that we were on the same side with China against Japan.

We were also de facto allies of convenience against the Soviet Union during the last two decades of the Cold War. Since then, China has benefited quite nicely from its improved diplomatic and trade relations with the U.S. and other Western countries.

From the U.S. standpoint, Nixon wanted to recognize China as a way of countering the Soviet Union and capitalizing on the Sino-Soviet rift. If not for that, then the U.S. might still be recognizing the "Republic of China" to this very day.

But now, it seems that the Chinese and Russians have been buddy-buddy lately, so the power balance has shifted in their favor.

As far as defining Taiwan's actual status, then the video makes a valid argument that they're not a country. However, laws - even international laws - can't account for every contingency. Taiwan's status is somewhat "unique," to say the least.

But at least as far as their normal day-to-day routine goes, they have a government in place, supported by their constituents. They may be somewhat authoritarian, although on a basic, fundamental level, their government ostensibly fulfills the basic functions governments would normally be expected to do. Most importantly, they have control of a trained and equipped modern military and law enforcement apparatus which answers to a government in Taipei, not in Beijing. They have their own flag and chain of command.

So, they are an actual geopolitical entity.

It's also ironic that China itself ceded the island of Taiwan to Japan in 1895, and it remained in Japanese hands for 50 years before it was given back to China, which was still technically under the KMT. Neither the Nationalists nor the Communists had control of Taiwan before that time, and they seemed to live without it for 50 years anyway.

One might ask: Is Taiwan really that important to them in the grand scheme of things? Or are they just nursing a 70-year-old grudge?