From: liaohen@cbnews.cb.att.com (Heng-Hsin Liao)
Subject: Re: the name?
Organization: AT&T Bell Lab
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:01:49 GMT

From article <1992Dec14.075126.6853@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, by shao@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (SHAO CHUNG-SHANG):
> ...
> 
> the shadow is not from the name - roc.  the issue is still the same:
> change name can not advoid danger.  ros is roc, it is not part of prc.
> but, most of countries recognize (or i can say follow) prc's claim: taiwan
> is part of china. (gee! not roc)
>

Most of the countries follow "One China". Most of the countries follow
"Taiwan is part of China". Yes, I agree. But I also know that most of the
countries support "self-determination". Currently, both governments claim
"Taiwan is part of China (ROC? PRC?)". Which country wants follow the
opposite. If Taiwanese finally tell the world that "We are Taiwan. We are no
ROC. Taiwan is not part of China." Do you think "Taiwan is part of China"
will still be followed world wide?

We, the people in Taiwan, define what is Taiwan. It's not anybody else.
The rest of the world definitely can recognize or neglect this fact. But
they just cannot change the definition made by us.

> so, where does the shadow from?  not the name, but the place we live - the
> island.  i don't think mainland rulers will matter what we call ourselves.
> they will be always against us.  so, if you want to avoid the danger, the
> best way is moving away from taiwan, the place.  otherwise, the danger will
> be always there before our noses.
> 

Nothing is free. To be an independent country means we really need to be
"independent". Assume the worst case, nobody cares you are dead or alive.
Be proud of being a Taiwanese. If China really want to invade, don't
hesitate, give them a blow.

> ...
>>	Right!  Just let people know we represent Taiwan other than
>>China is good enough for me.
> 
> then, i would rather use taipei as the name.  it makes me feel bigger,
> since i am from taipei.  another reason is taipei is the biggest city
> on the island.  it can well represent the island.  in fact, i think
> taipei is more famous than taiwan in the world.
> is republic of taipei good for you? 
> 

My family have been in Taipei for over 100 years. Taipei well represents
Taiwan? I really don't think so. Seems to me Taipei is abused and Taiwan
is disused. KMT is in fond of big cities than rural areas. Before 1949,
they loved Shang-Hai more than China. Now they love Taipei more than
Taiwan. I would suggest you take at good look at Taiwan if you have time.
Taipei is not more civilized than Taiwan.

> roc represents the people who live in taiwan now.  it is totally different
> from prc (i believe this is what you said - china) which controls the people
> who live in mainland now.
> 
>>> another question is if we change our national name, other countries are
>>> still away from us.  should we change another name and try again?  such
>>> as repulic of island?
>>> 
>>	No, We will work hard to improve our international status.
> 
> this is what our government is doing now.  it is not 'will', the future tense.
> it is 'now', the present tense.  changing our national name may make us have
> nothing to improve; that is, we will lose everything under our national
> name - roc.
> 

Why, Taiwan is still Taiwan. Every penny our people make is still a penny.
Don't tell me that billions of dollars that 20 million people earned belong
to ROC. It's people who own the country, the government. It's not ROC that
owns the people, the property.


Heng-Hsin
> cs shao.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.hongkong,soc.culture.china