I do not agree with the following two statements in Shen Chieh's (
A state is a political community and a type of living form that changes and evolves over time. This political community not only includes its government and organization, but also its tax-paying citizens and its territory. As such, the ROC has always been a state, although its citizens and territory have changed and evolved.
What we know as China should not be viewed as a single state that has continuously existed for thousands of years. Each dynasty could be considered a separate state, not to mention that there was not always a single dynasty or state controlling the entire area historically known as China. For instance, on the eve of the Mongol conquest of China, there existed two Sinicized states in China: the Southern Song and the Jurchen-dominated Jin.
Although it cannot be disputed that China's civilization has existed for thousands of years, civilization and state are two separate things.
Allen Timothy Chang
Shilin, Taipei
I came to Taiwan to pursue my degree thinking that Taiwanese are “friendly,” but I was welcomed by Taiwanese classmates laughing at my friend’s name, Maria (瑪莉亞). At the time, I could not understand why they were mocking the name of Jesus’ mother. Later, I learned that “Maria” had become a stereotype — a shorthand for Filipino migrant workers. That was because many Filipino women in Taiwan, especially those who became house helpers, happen to have that name. With the rapidly increasing number of foreigners coming to Taiwan to work or study, more Taiwanese are interacting, socializing and forming relationships with
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