Why won't China recognize Taiwan and Hong Kong independence?

[hotkarl]

We can only hope the US will accept California's independence when that day comes.

[Futuremauian]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Why won’t the United States recognize the independence of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Samoa?

What makes you think any of them WANT independence? Gaining independence would mean giving up U.S. citizenship and U.S. taxpayers support every one of those islands. Most of the other Caribbean and Pacific Islands would GLADLY join the United States if we would let them.

Sure, there is a small group of protesters in each of those places that clamor for independence but the vast majority want to remain. Same in Hawaii. Polls have shown MOST do not want independence.

[prospectheightsresident]

Hong Kong is de facto and de jure part of China. Taiwan is de jure part of China depending on who you talk to. Quote frankly, Taiwan lost the Chinese Civil War so I don't know how they can legitimately lay claim to Taiwan Island.

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by Moth

You, my Mainland friend, are the exception.

But it's nice that you are building bridges.

It's actually very common. All Taiwanese in my department have some mainland friends.

Many Taiwanese celebrities have mainland fans too, and vice versa. The people of both sides are not as hostile as the governments.

[Steve McDonald]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

Same reason the US wont let other countries be independent; control and resource'$

How about Cuba, The Philippines and Panama? They were all occupied by the U. S. and when they were ready, were given back their independence.

[pennyone]

Originally Posted by Gerobime227

Say China fully recognized Taiwan and Hong Kong's independence, what would they have to lose? Evil commie pieces of ****.

Why would china do such a silly thing? Taiwan was part of China since the Qing. And Hong Kong was returned in 1997 by Britain.

[415_s2k]

The reason China won't grant HK independence or recognize Taiwan's is because both of these places were split off from the mainland due to colonialism and war, during China's most recent period of weakness. Imagine if, for example, part of Texas had been taken over by India during the Great Depression, and the American Communist Party fought a civil war and managed to claim Georgia as the rightful seat of American governance right after WW2. After this period there were 2 generations of economic depression and stagnation for the rest of the US while Texas and Georgia made progress under the auspices of India and the Commies.

Finally, the US experiences an enormous economic boom which saw America soar to levels of prominence unseen for many generations prior. Now, the US wants its territories back as they view them as rightfully theirs, and also because they want to finally shrug off those last vestiges of shame when a foreign empire cut off a slice of their land. They feel that the people in those territories should view this the same way that they do: righting historical wrongs and reuniting the people.

But, the people in Texas, who now speak Hindi and have adapted to Indian customs, are wary of rejoining and don't want to lose their way of life or culture. The people in Georgia view themselves as separate from the mainland despite a shared language and don't want to lose their way of life either. This is an approximation of what's going on in China.

[Ian_Lee]

In Chinese politics, independence is not an outlandish idea.

When Mao was young, he published a magazine and advocated independence in the editorial for the province of Hunan where he resided.