Comments on: Speaker on PRC and Taiwan Coming to Cal Poly on Nov. 14

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:59:40 +0000

This is great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

I by no means hold myself out as an expert on the “PRC-Taiwan debate”, but it is my understanding that there are those who do believe that Taiwan should be unified with the mainland because “Taiwan has always been an major part of China.”

However, despite the fervor and frequency with which this is asserted by some of my friends in the PRC, most historians that I have discussed this issue with tell me that such a statement is more myth than fact.

Only during the latter part of the 1800s and the few years immediately after the end of World War II did the PRC govern Taiwan as a province of China. At all other times, it is my understanding that Taiwan has largely been independent of the PRC.

Where is “truth” in this debate? Don’t know. I’m sure it’s more complicated than the above.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:37:39 +0000

I agree entirely with Peter that Professor Greene’s presentation was very informative. She is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about her field of study. Professor Greene had an even harder task than Professor Morris did a couple weeks ago in that she only had 1 hour (shortened by some early technical difficulties). I wish I had a little more background knowledge as it would have made her talk more meaningful to me. Here’s what I learned though:

Taiwan became the “property” of Japan after Japan beat China in the Sino-Japanese War (late 1800’s). At the end of WWII, as Japan was defeated, Taiwan was returned to Republic of China (ROC) rule. When Communism enveloped mainland China, the ROC government moved to Taiwan, but maintained they still ruled China.

So, ultimately, the Taiwanese associate themselves as Taiwanese with a heavy dose of Japanese influence. The Chinese feel that Taiwanese are Chinese.

Professor Greene showed us some fairly recent textbooks. The Chinese-issued textbook showed mainland China and Taiwan all as the same color. The Taiwanese-issued textbook showed China as one color and Taiwan as a different color.

It sounds to me like there is a significant identify crisis and this is likely a dilemma that has no immediate solution.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 02:02:11 +0000

Glad to hear this was a good event. I had planned to attend but a college meeting was scheduled that I could not get out of. I am interested to hear from other MBA students who attended re: what they learned and what they thought.

If you enjoyed this session re: Taiwan-China and KMT-PLA issues, you will really enjoy the book by Ha Jin called “War Trash” on the reading list of your syllabus. It was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and it is about a Chinese soldier during the Korean War under immense pressure to, upon his capture by the Americans-South Koreans, not return to the PRC at the end of the war but instead go to Taiwan to start a new life. Once I picked up this book and started to read it I could not put it down.

By: Chun-Te Peter Wu

Chun-Te Peter Wu — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:49:02 +0000

Great talk. Professor Greene’s presentation about the KMT was very helpful to me. Growing up in Taiwan, I have no idea that KMT laid the foundation and infrastructure for the PRC state before they retreated to Taiwan. The only thing I can recall from my history classes was that the KMT were ousted by the Communist party in the Civil War because they were corrupt while in power from 1927-1949.

My prior understandings about the histories of KMT were mostly negative; however, Professor Greene opened my eyes to seeing the great accomplishments the KMT had provided for both Taiwan and China in their processes of economic development, military, state planning and the NRC (National Resource Commission). I want to thank Professor Morris for the invitation to the presentation!