Taiwan the Vanishing Island
This is so bizarre that I had to post it, even though it's been posted on Instapundit (which means that half the world has already seen it).
Yes, on this map by Foreign Policy, Taiwan doesn't appear at all! Now I know there's constant international arguing about whether to call Taiwan a "country," a "nation," a "region," etc. etc. But to wipe Taiwan off the world map entirely? Now that's just insulting. I know that China keeps trying to marginalize Taiwan, but this is ridiculous.
I like what blogger Michael Standaert had to say:
So where did Taiwan go is a question that doesn't only refer to this map, but in the eyes of the wider world. I'm not suggesting Taiwan should declare independence, though I do believe that is up to them. Nor would I claim China has no right to see Taiwan as part of China. Historically, they have a valid position. I do believe, however, that the failure to recognize Taiwan's success over the past decades in building its democratic institutions, its political and press freedoms, as well as its success moving from a heavily industrialized economy to a high-tech and service oriented economy, should be held up as something for China to emulate. Instead, Taiwan is being isolated and strangled by Chinese dominance and forced into the position have having only two options left: join China, or declare independence and fight China. If China is really keen on promoting 'peace and harmony' as is so often heard in its Orwellian official rhetoric, they could start by laying off Taiwan and perhaps learning from their neighbor. They would also be wise to see that the pressure they do exert against Taiwan only pushes those pro-independence forces in Taiwan further toward that eventuality, and possibly war. Perhaps that is what they want. |
Well, I doubt China will lay off Taiwan any time soon. Nope, Beijing will predictably go on making life difficult for Taiwan. I shudder to think about the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. How many ways can Beijing make life difficult for the delegation from "Chinese Taipei" TAIWAN?
I am so tired of some people treating Taiwan like an international pariah and diplomatic leper. I am likewise tired of people kissing up to China all the time and not saying enough about its belligerent bullying, its lack of freedoms, and its human rights abuses. I'm not saying that Taiwan should arbitrarily declare independence any time soon (even though, come on, it is de facto independent and sovereign). I just want everyone to live and let live and let the Taiwanese go about their daily business in peace.
UPDATE 1: I'm not saying that Foreign Policy deliberately or maliciously omitted or erased Taiwan from the map. But its absence is still very troubling. Foreign Policy probably just made some kind of printing error. Still, I may write them a polite but firm letter, complaining that the magazine has basically done to Taiwan what Iran has threatened to do to Israel: wipe it off the map...
UPDATE 2: I just looked at the map again and Taiwan has magically appeared. But it's colored black and it's not labeled. The article that goes with the map is the Failed States Index.
UPDATE 3: The Foreign Policy blog has now explained that the missing Taiwan was just a mistake. Link xie-xie to gentle reader Pursuit of Serenity.
UPDATE 4: Just a personal thought: Although Taiwan was not officially included in the Failed States Index, I submit that Taiwan is itself NOT a failed state.