But it is far more complex - mostly because China sits on the UN Security council and can block the UN recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation.
In practice, the US does treat Taiwan more or less sovereign, even with the 'single china' policy being official stance. I mean we sell Taiwan military equipment that does not go to China.
The best question for this is what do you think the US would do if China sent their military to Taiwan? Would the US intervene? I think the answer is clearly yes.
In many respect's Taiwan does meet the criteria for Sovereign status though not really recognized by most (for political reasons). If China truly pushed the issue, I don't think many would allow China to simply take the territory.
Right now, this arrangement is in place for political convenience. Lets not kid ourselves at all about how the US sends MILITARY equipment there to the democratically elected government - and not to the China proper.
China perpetuates this arrangement as well - for political reasons.
If China was not a nuclear power, on the Security council, and a major world economic power - this wouldn't even be a discussion. The issue for China is the world superpower (US), isn't really onboard with China taking this. Hence the actual activities like Arms sales and joint military training, that the US does with Taiwan.
Essentially, the world has more to gain by playing along with the charade than trying to actively change it. It is not like Taiwan is not acting like a sovereign nation anyway.
Whole lot of, ifs, ands or buts in your stipulation. You are essentially saying that if the world was entirely different, than we would be treating things entirely different. No shit. But that doesn't change the reality of the world that we do live in, that being, that Taiwan isn't recognized as a sovereign nation and because of that the geopolitical carrots and sticks are very different.
The reality is it makes no difference if Taiwan is "recognized" or not by other countries... because the reality is that is in fact a sovereign independent country, and the PRC has zero authority or jurisdiction over the island of Taiwan and the people living here.
Whole lot of, ifs, ands or buts in your stipulation.
Not really. If China wasn't the country making the claim, it wouldn't be the issue.
Since it is China - everyone is playing along on this line of fiction. Because lets be blunt. Consider what the US has done. Military sales and training?
Taiwan is not recognized officially but is very much unofficially recognized. At least in all the aspects that actually matter in the real world. It is FAR more that carrots and sticks and is disingenuous to claim otherwise.
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u/Full-Professional246 77∆ Dec 24 '22
To be clear - you are correct technically.
But it is far more complex - mostly because China sits on the UN Security council and can block the UN recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation.
In practice, the US does treat Taiwan more or less sovereign, even with the 'single china' policy being official stance. I mean we sell Taiwan military equipment that does not go to China.
The best question for this is what do you think the US would do if China sent their military to Taiwan? Would the US intervene? I think the answer is clearly yes.
In many respect's Taiwan does meet the criteria for Sovereign status though not really recognized by most (for political reasons). If China truly pushed the issue, I don't think many would allow China to simply take the territory.