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Sara K.'s avatar

What I always say when people say 'Taiwan can't defend itself from a CCP invasion is' a) Taiwan is a mountain island, you can't get more defensive terrain than that, and b) nobody has conquered the entire island through military force ever. Both Japan and the ROC took control of Taiwan primarily through diplomacy, not military force.

This is extremely anecdotal, but in my experience, the PRC citizens most open to the idea of Taiwan being independent of China were from Fujian (maybe they are better informed, or they are more sympathetic due to cultural/linguistic/etc ties, or maybe they are scared of what war with Taiwan would do to them). Any attempts by Taiwanese people to win over ordinary Chinese people might be especially effective there.

Though I don't want to suggest anyone in Taiwan is as awful as the Taliban... they offer a different kind of lesson. The Taliban were able to outlast the American occupation, despite the firepower of the U.S. military, because Afghanistan is their home, they're motivated, they're patient, and they were more willing to make sacrifices. Even if the CCP initially succeed in a takeover, that doesn't mean they would control Taiwan long-term, just as the United States was unable to defeat the Taliban in the long run.

Thanks for the thoughtful post!

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Thomas Robert Mountcastle's avatar

Dear Angelica, I am glad to have discovered your site. The "bed-wetting" reference was as good as it gets: Pundits are quick to print anything for click-bait. It is the reality of your observations that saddens me. I am at a loss as to what it would take for for the good people, who live in one of the most comfortable counties I have known, to wake up and see the light. I guess "cvomplacency" says it all. With regards from DelMarVa, Tom

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