this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
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Thoughts?

Is this imperialism by China, a country which is supposed to be left-wing? Leftists are normally anti-imperialism. Wouldn't it be better to let Taiwan democratically decide whether they want to be part of China or not?

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[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 48 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Xi Jinping is an evil scumbag whose goal is to destabilize the world. China needs and deserves Taiwan just as little as Russia needs Crimea.

Taiwan's sovereign status should be ratified in UN asap.

[–] BattleGrown@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Unfortunately that won't happen unless Republic of China declares to become an independent state of Taiwan. In their current form, they claim to be the legitimate government of mainland People's Republic of China too. I think it's safe to assume that they won't get their lands back, but it is not up to me to advise govt affairs.

[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 8 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that Taiwan would be happy to be just Taiwan instead of Republic of China, if that got them their UN recognition.

[–] brendansimms@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Sure.

If People's Republic of China agreed to ratify their UN membership and ratify them as a country if they just changed their name to Taiwan, you think they couldn't get 75% of their government & 50% of the people to vote for the name change?

I claim that their name has nothing to do with why People's Republic of China is threatening them with an invasion and forceful annexation.

Calling it annexation is the pan-green position of the DPP. The other major ROC position of the KMT (pan-blue) would never use annexation because it would infer that the PRC is legitimate.

The PRC, of course, would also not use annexation. They would claim reunification of the country from a seperatist groups like the DPP.

I feel odd having to say this, but because I understand the other side doesn't mean I agree with them. Its important for me to understand the major positions in this conflict.

[–] ruan@lemmy.eco.br -2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

You are wrong.

Does me saying that help you notice that you are wrong?

They call themselves oficially the "true" govern of China to this day, and their internal diplomacy is based on that.

[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Does me saying that help you notice that you are wrong?

Well, no, if you just say it. Duh. Who do you think you are?

They call themselves oficially the “true” govern of China to this day, and their internal diplomacy is based on that.

I feel like you totally did not read the last sentence of my comment, so I'll quote it here so you can be sure not to miss it!

if that got them their UN recognition.

[–] purple_drank@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No-one in the government of Taiwan considers themselves the true government of China. But they're stuck with the old constitutional claims from the 1940s still on the paper because any change to reflect reality would be called a "declaration of independence" by China, and trigger a military reaction.

You don't think that people in the KMT would? I think there are still some who hold that view and would never say it because it's brings waaaay too much heat and no political points. Rather, the KMT has shifted to cultural identity position.

"We are the original China; we don't need to declare independence because we are already the masters of our own (ROC) house." - Chairwoman Cheng

[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

they claim to be the legitimate government of mainland

They have a better claim then the government in Beijing but ultimately lack the force to back it up. They should have just dropped the pipe dream years ago.

[–] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

They lost a civil war and retreated from the land. How is that a better claim?

[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Xi's claim to legitimacy is based on the threat of violence. The President of Taiwan's legitimacy is based on being chosen by the people. It's called Consent; something the Beijing regime has always lacked and been indifferent to.

[–] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Winning an election in Taiwan doesn't give them a claim to mainland China. This isn't relevant.

[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

And not winning any elections doesn't give Xi Jinping any claim to mainland China either.

[–] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Winning the civil war and controlling the land does.

[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Being a conqueror doesn't give you a legitimate claim to anything. We decided a century ago to leave that Imperialism bullshit in the past but I guess some people can't let it go.

[–] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What we as we want and what is real are two different things. We do business and perform politics with many authoritarians and will continue with no end in sight. Some of us live in reality.

[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

We do business and perform politics with many authoritarians

And that's exactly why the world can't have nice things.

I'm finding it difficult to continue because you've abandoned political analysis for moral truisms. We began by discussing the objective sources of legitimacy and statehood, but you’ve retreated into a 'Gish Gallop' of emotional appeals.

Whether or not you like a regime's methods doesn't change the reality of its statehood or its control over a territory. Since you’re no longer engaging with the central argument of how states actually function in reality, there’s nowhere left for this conversation to go.