2024 Taiwanese presidential election | 13 January

[Laurencio]

I dont understand a taiwan's declaration of independence. Regardless of what china of other countries things of taiwan's status, doesnt taiwan considers themselves and independent country already? Why they would need a referendum?

Their constitution essentially states they are China. Taiwan's constitutional name is "The Republic of China". It has to do with the fact that the Kuomintang led government of China fled to Taiwain when the communists took power. They never abandonended their claim that the communist party is illegitimate and the Taiwanese constitution basically claims sovreignty over mainland China. The CCP on its side claim that they are the rightful rulers of China, not Taiwan and that the one china principle outlaid in the Taiwanese constitution makes Taiwan their rightful territory. A declaration of independence would effectively cause a change to that constitution which would no longer make Taiwan a part of China.

Or using their actual names.
The constitution of The Republic of China claims that mainland China is their rightful territory and that The People's Republic of China isn't a real thing. The Peoples Republic of China believes that since they are the rulers of the majority of China they also have the right to The Republic of China which they believe they gained the right to when the communists took power in mainland China. However, The Republic of China is no longer interested in being China, it would rather be known as Taiwan. To do that they need to change their constitution so that The Republic of China is no longer China.

 

[4bars]

Their constitution essentially states they are China. Taiwan's constitutional name is "The Republic of China". It has to do with the fact that the Kuomintang led government of China fled to Taiwain when the communists took power. They never abandonended their claim that the communist party is illegitimate and the Taiwanese constitution basically claims sovreignty over mainland China. The CCP on its side claim that they are the rightful rulers of China, not Taiwan and that the one china principle outlaid in the Taiwanese constitution makes Taiwan their rightful territory. A declaration of independence would effectively cause a change to that constitution which would no longer make Taiwan a part of China.

Or using their actual names.
The constitution of The Republic of China claims that mainland China is their rightful territory and that The People's Republic of China isn't a real thing. The Peoples Republic of China believes that since they are the rulers of the majority of China they also have the right to The Republic of China which they believe they gained the right to when the communists took power in mainland China. However, The Republic of China is no longer interested in being China, it would rather be known as Taiwan. To do that they need to change their constitution so that The Republic of China is no longer China.

Thanks for the detailed and constitutional explanation. As I understand, they might renounce to mainland china territory, but they consider themselve a sovereign nation. The same as argentina or UK renouncing the falklands. Or ukraine renouncing the territories that russia has occupied. Would not be a declaration of independence at most, name change