Here's a taste of what messages from Taiwan may sound like to the rest of the world:
We demand recognition of our nation as the independent, unique and sovereign state of Taiwan, founded by the people of Taiwan on the island of Taiwan ? er, or maybe we are the Republic of China, founded by Sun Yat-sen (
So, we demand recognition of our nation as the independent, unique and sovereign state of the Not-the-People's-Republic-of-China ? er, well, in the interest of domestic political unity, we don't want to deny unqualifiedly that we were ever a part of China. Many among us feel we sprang from the same roots as the People's Republic. And we certainly don't want to close the door on the possibility of reunification (if, that is, we were ever unified in the past, you understand). But we must be adamant on insisting on our present separation from the Chinese state on the mainland of Asia.
So, we demand recognition of our nation as the independent, unique and sovereign state of the Not-the-People's-Republic-of-China-Right-At-The-Moment ? er, unless that angers some of our defenders and business partners who would rather say that our status is undecided.
So, we demand recognition of our nation as the independent, unique and sovereign state of the Not-Necessarily-the-People's-Republic-of-China-Right-At-The-Moment ? er, or does that sound, you know, provocative?
So, we demand recognition of our nation as an independent, unique and sovereign state ? and while you're at it, why don't you tell us who in the heck we are?
Michael Falick
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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