🇹🇼 Will China ever let Taiwan be Taiwan? | The Stream

As China and Taiwan ramp up their military drills amid strained cross-strait and US-China relations, uneasy questions over the future of a democratic Taiwan loom for the island’s 23 million inhabitants.

Increased air and sea military exercises have been carried out on both sides of the Taiwan Strait this month after a controversial visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered Chinese officials.

In recent years, Beijing has become more aggressive in declaring its ambitions to take over the island and has threatened force against the Taiwanese if they declare independence. US President Joe Biden recently reiterated US forces’ commitment to defend the island militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.

One of Asia’s most progressive democracies, Taiwan is a de facto independent state with its own government, national defence and foreign affairs. Yet, due to Beijing's unyielding insistence that it will someday be a part of China, only 14 states globally have official diplomatic ties with the island.

So what does the future hold for Taiwan? In this episode of The Stream, we'll discuss the impact of recent cross-strait events on Taiwan and the outlook for the island.

Join the conversation:

#aljazeeraenglish
#ajstream
#Taiwan

[leoyu]

Let Palestine be independent from Israel

[dazzer]

Will the UK ever let Ireland be Ireland? Will the USA & Isreal ever let Palestine be Palestine? But…. More relatable situations would be the likes of Catalonia wanting too be independent from Spain, this type of example is more applicable too China because Taiwan is already part of China, however the island of Taiwan has enjoyed very relaxed autonomy from China for decades and perhaps this was a mistake on their part but Taiwan and its people have a very different political mindset compared to those of mainland China and since have developed many more differences. These differences and it’s geographic location gives the people on the island of Taiwan a very good cause for self determination and pure independence.

[philmund]

Taiwan is a defacto democratic sovereign country

[platinum]

This is the same as asking "" will nato and EU let Crimea be Crimea?

[darthsyphilis]

Will America let Puerto Rico become a state or self governing, same answer, no

[leoyu]

Let's talk about USA "democracy" among Arabian people 😂

[Michael--]

I've been lucky enough to spend lots of time in Taiwan, and I hope that they stay independent. I tell everyone that Taiwan is a perfect place to experience S.E. Asia, but if China takes over it will never be the same again.

[Goddess]

Your desire to have power will be your downfall.
The beginning of the End

[alantran]

Will Western country ever let china be China 🇨🇳? LOL 😆? People, people, the streets are two ways!

[Mao]

Why don't you recognize Crimea as part of Russia first?

[josediaz]

I grew up always thinking Taiwan was it's own country

[junhong]

3 of the guests are from Taiwan and it’s not fair you should’ve been invited somebody from China then we go from there

[shagieva]

Will US allow the rest of the world live in peace in there land

[NoreenHoltzen]

This is nonsense :) China isn’t trying to disrupt Taiwan. That is how we in the US think because it is what we try to do all around the world, weakling or creating divisions. China want the opposite for Taiwan - for it to flourish, but for US to not interfere politically. We don’t have North Korea trying to encourage Hawaï separating from USA with freedom propaganda media sponsorship and supply of weapons, and if they tried to do that we would be bombing North Korea in an instant. We seriously need to keep away from other state powers and mind our own business.

[milliondogstorturedinchi]

Mostly Chinese 50 Cent Army wumaos in the comment section lol

[truthmatters]

It's one sided as usual for Al Jazeeea to only invite one side of the argument to air with no counter argument from the other side.

[woodfire]

I like Miss Femi Oke. I love her voices. I like her hosting the program.

[jaymarx]

That depends on not just China but mostly what US wants it to be, sadly.

[cybourne]

Should Qatar's opposition be independent from the current Government? Scotland is destined to leave the UK?

[llpqazz]

So many CCP bots on these comments, may as well turn off comments on these stories.