Comments on: Taiwan and Its Olympic Flag

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:45:19 +0000

Taiwan is sssssssssooooooooooo an indepent country. And it always has been because it was part of China but know it’s not. And I think this happened because the people who lived in Taiwan didn,t want to be ruled by China just because it’s a bigger country than them. So they had their Civil War and they were free from Chinese rule.And now they are a providence. And of course they are independent

By: samantha

samantha — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:14:51 +0000

it is brilliant no need to change a thing wee there is please put in why the olympic flag is the way it is there is nowhere else i can get it

By: Steve Brown

Steve Brown — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:55:17 +0000

Over the last 300 years mainland China exerted direct administrative control over Taiwan for a period of less than 5 years, during which time it “gave” Taiwan to Japan. At the end of the second world war Japan agreed to release Taiwan and allow it to become an independent nation. China had of course already ceded it’s claim to Taiwan when the Dowager Empress gave it to Japan, assuming she ever really possessed Taiwan in the first place. China never considered Taiwan of any importance whatsoever until (1) China lost face over the Nationalists retreat to Taiwan and until (2) Taiwan’s economic development in the 1980’s made it appear as a desirable resource to China. After a long period of military rule by the Nationalists Taiwan achieved a freely elected democratic government, which as was pointed out above, is more than mainland China can say.

By: Ayu

Ayu — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:52:40 +0000

I disagree with TRey. You can’t say Taiwan was ALWAYS part of China. Like the United States, Taiwan has always had/have indigenous people, who don’t even speak Chinese or Taiwanese. And unfortunately, like the Native Americans’ land was stolen from them, settlers from other countries also drove the Aborigines away forcing them to live in the mountians. Also, Taiwan was made into a Dutch colony before the Chinese took over.

Yes, the majority of Taiwanese people originate from Chinese ancestry, but so do many other Asian countries like Vietnam. And China probably would like Vietnam to become part of them, especially north Vietnam, where the majority are Chinese. And I’m sure that many Americans support the independence for Taiwan because it is a democratic nation, but with China’s rising economy and important businesses with the US, it’s difficult to actually declare Taiwan’s independence.

To say that Taiwan has always been part of China is like saying the United States has always been part of Great Britain.

By: Lily

Lily — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:17:29 +0000

Taiwan can never be reverted back into a Chinese province. It is a true democracy, with the population voting in and out various leaders, including their President. China on the other hand has always been ruled autocratically, first by corrupt emperors, then the corrupt Communist Party- neither of which can be voted out. Culturally, the Taiwanese have also diverged, having absorbed many Japanese customs during Japan’s 50 years of occupation. The Taiwanese have always been of independent spirit and mind, they can’t be herded around and ordered to obey, like large bunches of Chinese sheep.

By: TRey

TRey — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:13:55 +0000

This article was great, but towards the end it was just ignorant. The island of Taiwan has always been part of China. ALWAYS!!! It was seperated during the Japan invaded China. The Taipei people lost the civil war and went to the Island to hide and later try to established a new country. It’s almost like Robert E. Lee lost the the civil war and go to Hawaii to established itself there even Hawaii is part of the U.S. What’s wrong with China take what’s belong to them. There is no such thing as Taiwan. Taiwan is China.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:16:33 +0000

If china wants to “save safe” for themselves, they need to stop controlling what others need to do. From the time of constructing Olympics and going through the games, china has not stopped with its rules against other countries; Free Tibet protesters are arrested and deported, Gold Medalists in different countries HAVE BEEN BANNED BECAUSE THEY PARTICIPATE IN DARFUR FREEDOM, and Taiwan has to be submissive with the flag.. That’s ridiculous.

UN knows this crap very well, but they can’t do anything because “they’re afraid that china will destroy the countries with million men marching. Guess what? It’s about quality of military, not quantity.

By: Taiwan’s Olympic “Appearance” | Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:28:36 +0000

[...] rings and their star. (You can read an excellent summary of the Olympic Committee position at Cup of Cha — formerly Daily Tea Leaves.) One of my former students, Shwuing was from Taiwan. I find myself [...]

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:30:14 +0000

great observations! I’ve always thought it was outrageous that the Chinese impose their will on Taiwan – and that the rest of the world allows them to do so. If I was Taiwan I would carry a blank flag in protest.

By: José

José — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:15:12 +0000

The US should officially re-recognize the Republic of China commonly known as Taiwan as an sovereign country and have formal relations, nothing like AIT and TECRO.