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June 17, 2004

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Today's question

Charles asks a good question: if China and Taiwan go to war, is it a civil war or not? Obviously the mainland would consider it so, but Taiwan would be fighting for some degree of real independence. Most of the world maintains the "one China" theory, so how would the big powers view such a development? There's a case that the UN would have no jurisdiction as it would be a "domestic" dispute. On the other hand if Taiwan declares independence first and then China invades, does that make it an international dispute?

Thoughts?

 posted by Simon on 06.17.04 at 02:39 PM in the




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Comments:

I don't think it would be a civil war. The two countries obvious have different governments, systems, etc. And most of the world pretty much treats them as two different entities.

 posted by: andykoom on 06.17.04 at 02:48 PM [permalink]

That's an easy one: If China wins, it's a civil war, if Taiwan manages to survive, it's not.

 posted by: David on 06.17.04 at 04:37 PM [permalink]

If China says "please may we invade you" and Taiwan say "thanks you for your bombs" then it a civil war.

Anything more than that won't be a war but the end

 posted by: da on 06.17.04 at 04:41 PM [permalink]

The constitution under which Chen Shui Bian was elected is the constitution of the Republic of China, which includes the mainland. So, sorry, but legally it would be a Civil War, as the militaries involved both legally claim to be fighting for the sole legitimate government of all China.

But to quote Guns 'n' Roses, "What's so civil about war, anyway?"

 posted by: chriswaugh_bj on 06.17.04 at 08:04 PM [permalink]

Half of my stuff says "Made in China" and half says "Made in Taiwan". They're different countries or they'd all just say "Made in Chiwan".

 posted by: Jim on 06.17.04 at 11:13 PM [permalink]




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