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Speaking of which, the story of the little known wife of Chiang Kai-Shek's son and later President Chiang Ching-Kuo Chiang Fang-liang (born Faina Ipat'evna Vakhreva) from Belarus/Russia is an interesting one.
People in mainland China often identify with their home province as well. Considering Taiwan is so well known, it wouldn't surprise me if your friend would do so himself. I don't know your friend, but just because someone identifies with Taiwan doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't consider himself Chinese.
I have been aquainted with a number of people whose families have lived in northern California for many generations that consider themselves American despite their bloodlines clearly being chinese in orign. If questioned about their ethnicity they describe themselves as Chinese. If asked about their nationality they describe themselves as Americans.
I see no issue with a person of Chinese descent feeling themselves to be Tawainese.
My friends in California, despite the recognition of their Chinese ancestry, have no desire to place themselves under Chinese rule. They are quite happy with US governmental rule, and even Californian State government (although as a Texan I have difficulty understanding the state govt preferrence )
What your ancestory is and what your alliegence is to are differernt issues. They do not go hand in hand.
I'm in no way suggesting they should submit themselves to the fascist PRC. Quite the contrary. I just feel that Western media's dissociation of Taiwan with China (which, to me, doesn't have to mean the PRC) isn't reflective of the general political sentiment among ROC nationals. Like I said, we would call someone from Brazzaville Congolese even though they are from the smaller Congo. We would call someone from Bissau Guinean even though they're from the smaller Guinea. We would call someone from Pyongyang Korean even though they're from the smaller Korea. Why can't we do the same with China?
What do people from Taiwan WANT to be called? That is how I would refer to them. Everyone I have ever met from Taiwan states that they are from Taiwan. Not China.
I'm in no way suggesting they should submit themselves to the fascist PRC. Quite the contrary. I just feel that Western media's dissociation of Taiwan with China (which, to me, doesn't have to mean the PRC) isn't reflective of the general political sentiment among ROC nationals. Like I said, we would call someone from Brazzaville Congolese even though they are from the smaller Congo. We would call someone from Bissau Guinean even though they're from the smaller Guinea. We would call someone from Pyongyang Korean even though they're from the smaller Korea. Why can't we do the same with China?
It's not just Western media's dissociation of Taiwan from China--more importantly, it's Taiwan's dissociation of Taiwan from China. It's actually Western governments fear of bad relations with China that makes them deny that dissociation. Free speech might allow the media in those countries to address them separately, but in official channels, they stay mum.
Chinese have their own way to define a nation or culture. They do not follow the western convention completely, and people in the west should get used to it.
For example, Chinese people recognize Yuan dynasty as a Chinese dynasty, but Yuan was established by Mongols. Nowadays there are more Mongols in China than in Mongolia. Some westerners never understand this. The same goes to Tibet. Westerners cannot understand Chinese people's mentalilty.
There are two sovereign states which administer different parts of China, but the people living on Taiwan are overwhelmingly Chinese. Their language is Chinese, their culture is Chinese, their history is Chinese, their country is called the Republic of China... I don't understand why it's almost considered rude or unacceptable to think of Taiwan as a province of China. I don't believe that I, as a foreigner, am in a position to voice my opinion on the reunification of China, but considering Greens (Those who support a separate "Taiwanese" identity) are a minority in the ROC, why can't we refer to the country as "East China" or "China-Taipei" or something as we do with countries with the same name in multiple states like Korea, Congo or Guinea?
Here is a map of territories administered by the Republic of China that are not in Taiwan.
To put things in perspective for Americans reading this thread: let's pretend that there was a civil war and the majority of the United States was lost to a new government.
However, a few islands off the coast were retained, keeping the same constitution and government as you have now, and "patriots" (or whatever you'd want to call them) from all over the country moved there, including you, retaining a pan-American culture. Wouldn't you still be American or would you just be a demonym of the largest island, even if you didn't even live on that island? Of course you'd still be an American.
I defer to my friends who seem to prefer to be called Taiwanese.
As a matter of fact seems the majority of the people of Taiwan now consider themselves Taiwanese.
I'm in no way suggesting they should submit themselves to the fascist PRC. Quite the contrary. I just feel that Western media's dissociation of Taiwan with China (which, to me, doesn't have to mean the PRC) isn't reflective of the general political sentiment among ROC nationals. Like I said, we would call someone from Brazzaville Congolese even though they are from the smaller Congo. We would call someone from Bissau Guinean even though they're from the smaller Guinea. We would call someone from Pyongyang Korean even though they're from the smaller Korea. Why can't we do the same with China?
Because in the West the term Chinese is primarily used as a designation of nationality. In that case it is meaningful to designate between Chinese and Taiwanese.
It can also be used to denote ethnicity, in which case it is far less meaningful.
When we get to race it has almost no meaning what so ever but most westerners don't realize that there are multiple races/ethnicities in Asia let alone within China.
There are two sovereign states which administer different parts of China, but the people living on Taiwan are overwhelmingly Chinese. Their language is Chinese, their culture is Chinese, their history is Chinese, their country is called the Republic of China... I don't understand why it's almost considered rude or unacceptable to think of Taiwan as a province of China.
In Rome you do like Romans. Just like you don't call for independence of Tibet in China, you don't say Taiwan is a part of China in Taiwan.
Why can't you call them part of China? Maybe because they have an independent government and consider themselves an independent country. Culture or language is irrelevant.
In Rome you do like Romans. Just like you don't call for independence of Tibet in China, you don't say Taiwan is a part of China in Taiwan.
Why can't you call them part of China? Maybe because they have an independent government and consider themselves an independent country. Culture or language is irrelevant.
Not ALL Taiwanese consider themselves an independent country. Still, some Taiwanese consider themselves Chinese.
The issue is not crystal clear.
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