Let the Taiwanese people vote on becoming part of China
Re: “Tsai ought to abide by reality: island is part of one China,” What Others Say, January 3.
Once again the China Daily gives us the tired old line that Taiwan is part of China. Look at the map, dear readers. Taiwan is separated from China by a substantial body of water, the Taiwan Strait. It is not geographically part of the China mainland.
In fact, if you look at the world map, you see a remarkable geographical coincidence. Almost every continent has an island or group of islands off its southeast coast. North America has Cuba. South America has the Falklands. Africa has Madagascar. Asia has a whole collection of islands and island chains: Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia. All of these islands are both geographically and politically independent of the nation(s) on the adjacent landmass. Why should Taiwan be different?
In an age infatuated by democracy, the Taiwan “problem” should have a simple solution. Let the United Nations, or some neutral international organisation, conduct a referendum. Let the Taiwanese people vote on whether they want union with China or independence. Of course, China will never permit such a referendum, because they know they will lose.
I offer Xi Jinping a challenge and a warning. The challenge: Transform China into such a paradise that the Taiwanese will beg to join. The warning: Tsai Ing-wen is a Taiwanese woman. Never mess with a Taiwanese woman. Anyone who dares to do so has never been married to one.
S Tsow
