The argument of independence between China and Taiwan.

China reacquired Hong Kong in 1997 from the British and is set to take over the Portuguese-administered territory of Macau later this year. Now China is eager to incorporate Taiwan as well. Taiwan has been separated from China since 1895, and the majority of the people who reside on Taiwan do not wish to reunify or be reunified unless it is on their terms with a democratic China. Until that time comes, China should not pursue its efforts in unifying Taiwan, and they should recognize that Taiwan is an independent country. By explaining the situation from a different perspective, China gains a better understanding of Taiwan's situation, and realized that Taiwan's independence should not be forgotten.

A long history lies behind the separation of Taiwan and China sow how China and Taiwan have been separated from each other. After China lost a humiliating war with Japan in 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, which ended the first Sino-Japanese War. China had to cede the province of Taiwan to the Japanese. The fact that Taiwan was ceded is significant because China no longer had any rightful claim over them. The people in Taiwan refused to submit to the Japanese and initiated a rebellion against them. The Japanese quickly crushed the rebellion and for the next 50 years the Japanese occupied Taiwan stringently. It was not until 1945 when the Japanese were finally defeated that Taiwan was freed. At this point, the Chinese unlawfully took control of Taiwan, and set up their own government. Chinese government authorities caused resentment among the people in Taiwan. In February of 1947, two years after China took over Taiwan, the people of Taiwan revolted against the Chinese. However they were able to quell the uprising in a matter of months and afterwards the Chinese declared...