In what form should Mainland China and Taiwan be reunified?

[Arriaga II]

Where is the "continued Taiwanese independence" option?

 

[NickyJ]

I've got a better idea than the ones you listed: Nuke China, declare Taiwan the owner of China. How could that possibly go wrong?

 

[GoodSarmatian]

For starters, China can nuke you back.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

I have to agree with Winner on this one. There is no rational reason why China would want to seize a small island with nothing of value to it and no threat to its interests. One could argue that Taiwan harbors American interests but so does Japan and South Korea, and they're in China's back yard too. The only explanation I can give as to why there is so much obsession is purely posturing. China has come a long way to what is arguably a 21st century superpower, with the US. They are now in a position for an outreaching foreign policy that has their influence far from their borders. I have even heard news of Chinese cultural centers as far away as Africa, teaching Chinese language and culture to native Africans. They want to show that they are willing to be aggressive, and Taiwan is an easy target.

I would even be surprised that Taiwan would even want to rejoin China even as the hero after a Chinese political upheaval. They seem best off to their own devices.

 

[NickyJ]

For starters, China can nuke you back.

Not if you nuke them first.

 

[Winner]

Not if you nuke them first.

China has a second strike capability, and it's getting better every year. So, that ship has sailed.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Nuking doesn't work that way, in most cases the other guy will have some mobile paltforms left. So before you nuke China you should make a list of ~100 cities you don't mind losing.

 

[Dachs]

Nuking doesn't work that way, in most cases the other guy will have some mobile paltforms left. So before you nuke China you should make a list of ~100 cities you don't mind losing.

100? Not that many; PRC barely has that many ICBMs and SLBMs and of those, they'll almost certainly lose quite a bit in the opening shots. But still, yeah, it'll be quite a few.

 

[Lord of Elves]

Where is the "give it back to Japan" option?

 

[say1988]

100? Not that many; PRC barely has that many ICBMs and SLBMs and of those, they'll almost certainly lose quite a bit in the opening shots. But still, yeah, it'll be quite a few.

What are their detection capabilities and readiness? Could they get their missiles off before the first strike lands?

 

[Ataxerxes]

What are their detection capabilities and readiness? Could they get their missiles off before the first strike lands?

NickyJ had a beautiful, very funny joke. Now we're seriously discussing this?

Anyway, the majority of Chinese people living in China want a unified China (i.e. Taiwan), if I understand this correctly. I'm not sure the majority of Taiwanese want Red China governing them. I don't see this happening but China will continue to talk as if Taiwan is part of China.

 

[Gatsby]

One of the most likely options appears to be missing from the list, namely: China plays the Long Game by allowing/encouraging the USA's gradual demise as a global superpower from the inside out, and when Uncle Sam is out of the picture China can address the issue however they like (unless Taiwan acquires a nuclear deterrent).

 

[Dachs]

One of the most likely options appears to be missing from the list, namely: China plays the Long Game by allowing/encouraging the USA's gradual demise as a global superpower from the inside out, and when Uncle Sam is out of the picture China can address the issue however they like (unless Taiwan acquires a nuclear deterrent).

hahahahahaha

 

[Gatsby]

mwahahahahahaha

Fix it for you

Edit: Presumably the Chinese government is familiar with the writings of Sun Tzu. So, for your interest, here are a few words of wisdom from Sun Tzu which seem relevant to this issue:

"To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."

"The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."

 

[luiz]

Am I the only person in the world who finds a lot of those Sun Tzu quotes platitudes?

 

[Monsterzuma]

China is more likely to fragment than to take on any additional territories. it is already massively bloated as an administrative entity and is far less culturally consistent than it's official status as a "nation state" implies. not even the language is held in common between the various sub-regions.

 

[GenMarshall]

Red China falls and the Republic of China becomes the rightful ruler of mainland China!

 

[Archbob]

The Glorious PROC will conquer that foolish island sooner or later.

 

[Tee Kay]

Most preferable (not likely): united in a democratic China
Most likely: continuation of status quo
Second-most likely: greater economic and cultural cooperation, political status quo.
Third-most likely: formal independence as "Taiwan"
Somewhat promising: united under one-country, two-systems arrangement, a la HKSAR
Least preferable (not likely): war

 

[ParkCungHee]

Where's "Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere?"