Thesis Question

Will China and Taiwan ever unify?

Historical Conflict

Taiwan- strengthening economy and new economic tieshttp://athaia.org/images/cartes/taiwan_detroit.jpg

http://www.zaksadviser.com/notes/images/China_Economy-vs-Markets1.jpg

-China overshadows Taiwan

-Very influential nation

-Current GDP in China- 4.33 Trillion USD

Taiwan’s “Mistaken Identity”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nizmfOhtP6E&feature=related

Kuomintang

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/china/rep1946large.gif

http://www.historycentral.com/asia/ChineseCivilWarcont.jpg

Taiwan as an Economic Power

Reforms of the 50’s and 60’s strengthened Taiwan economically

Emphasis on industry

Did not emphasize bureaucratic structure as China did

http://www.news.vnu.edu.vn:85/htx/vietnamese/c1471/2009/03/n2942/taiwan_taipei-101.jpg

Economic Differences

High standard of living

Equitable distribution of income

Capitalist lifestyle

Democratic lifestyle

Importance as a world power

Communist government

Bureaucratic, but market oriented economy

Expanding interests abroad

http://www.topnews.in/files/taiwan-flag.bmp http://www.aiesec.org/cms/aiesec/AI/Central%20and%20Eastern%20Europe/SLOVENIA/china-flag.gif

Ma Ying-jeou

Taiwanese president

Pursues warmer Chinese relations

Rejects the claim that Taiwan is a province of the PRC

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/ma_yingjeou/index.html?scp=4&sq=china%20taiwan&st=cse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvkmkpgSSZ0

Current Conflict

Diplomatic visits to Taiwan from China

China’s policy- re-unification

President Ma- easing tensions, or setting the stage for takeover?

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2008/08/04/p08-080804-gp.jpg

Political Cartoons

http://www.danwei.org/images/pres.jpg

Political Cartoons Cont.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2009/09/28/p08-090928-a1.jpg

Thesis Statement

Many people think that Taiwan will become unified with china. However, considering Taiwan’s history and current ties with China, it is more likely that Taiwan will not unify with china. This is believed to be so because of economic differences, political differences, and historical conflict.

Is the world a better place to live?

The world as of right now is a much better place to live in. Although China and Taiwan will most likely not unify, and major political and economical differences do exist, foreign relations between the two nations have improved drastically over the course of history, and especially since President Ma was voted into power.